Greece Mandates Social Media Ban for Under-15s

Greece has officially enacted a comprehensive social media ban for children under the age of fifteen, setting the stage for a significant shift in digital regulation across Europe. The legislation, which passed parliament this week, will take full effect on January 1, 2027. By moving quickly, the nation positions itself as one of the first in the European Union to implement such a strict age restriction on major digital platforms.

The new rules apply directly to popular services including TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, and X. These platforms are now legally required to implement proportionate and reliable age-verification methods to ensure compliance. This marks a decisive move away from self-declared ages, forcing companies to adopt more robust technical solutions to distinguish between adult and minor users.

Digital Governance and AI Minister Dimitris Papastergiou emphasized the urgency of the decision, noting that the government could have waited for a perfect European solution. Instead, he argued that a responsible state must act now because children are increasingly sinking into the internet. He described the situation as a challenge that demands immediate governmental responsibility rather than passive observation.

Compliance with the new act is backed by financial penalties under the EU’s Digital Services Act. If platforms fail to meet the new standards, they face significant fines. Additionally, parents will be required to use state-backed applications named Kids Wallet or Gov.gr. These apps pair with a child’s device to block access if the age requirements are not met, creating a dual-layer protection system for minors.

The legislation utilizes a technology known as 'age tokens,' which allows platforms to confirm a user's age while minimizing the amount of personal data disclosed. Papastergiou stated that this approach is designed to protect user privacy by keeping data collection to the absolute minimum necessary for verification. This technical framework aims to balance the need for accurate age checks with the growing demand for digital privacy.

Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, who initially proposed the measure earlier this year, called the bill difficult but necessary. He utilized his government’s majority to push the bill through despite opposition from minority parties. This follows Greece’s 2024 decision to ban mobile phones in schools, and recent opinion polls indicate that the new social media ban enjoys widespread support among the adult population.

The move is seen as a strategic push to influence broader European policy. Mitsotakis stated that the government’s goal is to drive the EU in this direction. While the European Commission has recently introduced the EU Kids Act, that framework only mandates an outright ban for children under thirteen. Greece’s legislation goes further, following in the footsteps of Australia, the first nation to enact a full ban, though Australia has faced challenges in implementing its own age-verification systems.