Greece passes law barring under-15s from major social networks

Greece has officially enacted a national ban on social media access for children under the age of 15, marking a decisive shift in how the country regulates digital spaces for its youth. The legislation passed the Greek parliament and will come into force on January 1, 2027. This move makes Greece one of the first nations within the European Union to implement such a strict age restriction through domestic law.

The new statute applies to prominent digital platforms including TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, and X. Under the rules, these services are required to deploy age-verification methods that are both proportionate and reliable. The measure was championed by Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, who had signaled the government's intent to act earlier in the year. He described the final bill as difficult but necessary for protecting young citizens.

Dimitris Papastergiou, the minister for digital governance and AI, defended the timing of the vote. He argued that waiting for a comprehensive European regulation was not the best path forward. "It would have been very easy to do absolutely nothing today and wait for the perfect European law. But the challenge is here. Children are sinking into the internet every day, and I believe a responsible government must do what it is obliged to do," Papastergiou stated.

Enforcement of the new law falls under the existing framework of the EU's Digital Services Act. Companies that fail to meet the compliance standards will face financial penalties. To assist families, the government is introducing state-backed applications known as Kids Wallet and Gov.gr. Parents will need to install these apps on their children's devices to block access to prohibited platforms.

The technology behind these government apps relies on what the minister called age tokens. These digital tools are designed to verify a user's age while collecting the minimum amount of personal data necessary. This approach aims to protect the privacy of minors during the verification process. The system pairs with the child's device to ensure consistent blocking of social media services.

Opposition parties in the Greek parliament voted against the measure, arguing that it was premature or insufficient. However, Prime Minister Mitsotakis utilized his majority to secure the passage of the bill. This legislative action follows a 2024 decision to ban mobile phones in Greek schools. Recent opinion polls indicate that the adult population in Greece broadly supports the new restrictions on young users' online activity.

Mitsotakis has stated that the government aims to influence the broader European Union to adopt similar standards. The European Commission has recently proposed the EU Kids Act, which seeks to establish a common framework for digital safety. However, that proposed legislation currently calls for an outright ban only for children under the age of 13, making Greece's threshold of 15 more stringent.

Australia holds the distinction of being the first country to implement a full social media ban for minors. The Greek government is closely watching the Australian experience, particularly regarding the practical challenges of implementing age verification. As the January 2027 deadline approaches, Greek platforms will need to finalize their technical solutions to meet the new legal requirements.

The passage of this law signals a potential trend in European digital policy. By acting unilaterally, Greece is setting a precedent that may pressure other member states to tighten their own rules. The focus remains on balancing the need for child protection with the practical demands of digital identity verification in a fast-moving online landscape.