Greece Sets January 2027 Deadline for Under-15 Social Media Ban

Greek law now restricts social media access for all children under the age of 15, a rule that takes effect on January 1, 2027. The measure makes Greece one of the first European Union members to legally limit preteen use of major platforms. Parliament approved the ban earlier this year after Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis announced the initiative.

The legislation covers TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, and X. These services must implement age-verification systems that are both proportionate and reliable. Companies that fail to meet these requirements face fines under the EU's Digital Services Act. On the consumer side, parents must download state-backed applications called Kids Wallet or Gov.gr. These apps pair with a child's device to block access to the restricted services.

Digital governance and AI minister Dimitris Papastergiou stated that the apps are designed to protect privacy while limiting data collection. The system uses age tokens to confirm a user's age with minimal disclosure of personal information. Papastergiou argued that waiting for perfect European rules would have meant inaction. He said, "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."

Mitsotakis described the bill as difficult but necessary. He noted that his government aims to push the rest of the EU in the same direction. The European Commission recently introduced the EU Kids Act, which targets a similar issue but currently calls for an outright ban only for children under 13. Greece's new law covers a slightly older demographic, extending the restriction to those under 15.

The bill passed with support from Mitsotakis's government majority, as minority parties opposed the legislation. This follows a 2024 rule that prohibited mobile phones in Greek schools. Opinion polls suggest the new social media restriction has strong support among Greek adults. The approach mirrors the strategy used in Australia, the first country to enact a full social media ban for children. Implementing age verification in Australia has presented challenges, a difficulty Greece will now face as it deploys its state-backed apps.

The next major step is the implementation phase leading up to the January 1, 2027 deadline. Platforms must finalize their verification methods, and parents must download the required applications. The government expects the system to be live by the start of the new year.