Greece implements age restrictions for social media users under 15

More than four months remain before the new Greek law takes effect, setting a clear deadline of January 1, 2027, for the implementation of significant changes to how minors access digital platforms. The Greek parliament has formally approved a ban on social media for children under the age of 15. This legislative move marks one of the first instances of such a regulation within the European Union. Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis had previously announced the initiative earlier this year, describing the bill as difficult but necessary for the nation's digital future.

The scope of the new legislation is broad, covering major platforms including TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, and X. Under the act, these services are required to employ proportionate and reliable methods for verifying the age of their users. Non-compliance with these requirements will result in fines imposed under the existing European Union Digital Services Act. The framework aims to create a standardized approach to age verification across the region while establishing a national baseline for protection.

Dimitris Papastergiou, the minister for digital governance and artificial intelligence, defended the urgency of the measure during the legislative process. He noted that doing nothing would have been the easy path, waiting for a perfect European law that may not arrive in time. Papastergiou argued that children are increasingly immersed in the internet daily, and a responsible government must act according to its obligations. His comments highlighted the government's view that immediate action was preferred over waiting for broader EU legislation.

Parents will play a direct role in enforcing the new rules. They will be required to download state-backed applications known as Kids Wallet or Gov.gr. These apps must be paired with their child's device to block access to restricted platforms. Papastergiou explained that these tools are designed to protect privacy and minimize the amount of data collected. They utilize age tokens to confirm a user's age while limiting the disclosure of personal information, aiming to balance security with data protection.

The path to passing the bill was not without political friction. Minority parties in the Greek parliament opposed the legislation. However, Prime Minister Mitsotakis utilized his majority government to carry the measure through the legislative process. This follows a previous step taken by the nation in 2024, when mobile phones were barred in schools. Recent opinion polls indicate that the new social media ban enjoys wide support among the adult population in Greece.

The Greek government aims to influence broader European policy. Mitsotakis has stated that the goal is to push the European Union in the same direction. The European Commission recently introduced the EU Kids Act, which aligns with this objective. However, there is a notable difference in scope between the two laws. The proposed EU legislation stipulates an outright ban only for children under the age of 13, whereas the Greek law extends the restriction to those under 15.

International precedents offer context for the challenges ahead. Australia was the first nation to enact a full social media ban for children. However, the implementation of age verification systems in that country has proven to be challenging. Greece now faces the task of executing its own system, with the January 2027 start date providing a short window for platforms and parents to adjust to the new requirements.

As the deadline approaches, the focus will shift to the technical implementation of age tokens and the adoption of parental apps. The success of the Greek model will likely be scrutinized by other EU member states. The interplay between national laws and upcoming European regulations will determine the long-term landscape of digital access for minors in the region.