Greece Moves to Shield Minors: Social Media Restrictions
Greek lawmakers have approved legislation prohibiting children under 15 from accessing major social platforms.
By Robert Hayes ·
Greece's parliament has approved a measure restricting access to social media for children under 15. The legislation was passed on October 23, 2026. Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis introduced the bill earlier this year. He described the proposal as a difficult but necessary step for the country. The new rules are scheduled to take effect on January 1, 2027. This makes Greece one of the first nations in the European Union to enforce such a ban.
The law applies to major platforms including TikTok, Instagram, Facebook and X. Service providers must implement age verification methods. These methods must be both proportionate and reliable. The goal is to confirm a user's age before granting access. The state will also provide tools for parents. Apps called Kids Wallet and Gov.gr can be paired with a child's device. These applications are designed to block access to restricted content. They use age tokens to confirm age while minimizing the collection of personal data.
Digital governance and AI minister Dimitris Papastergiou addressed the parliament regarding the urgency of the measure. He noted that waiting for a unified European law was an option. However, he stated that children are sinking into the internet every day. He added that a responsible government must act on its obligations. The bill passed with the support of the majority government. Minority parties opposed the legislation. Opinion polls indicate that the adult population widely supports the measure. This follows a ban on mobile phones in schools that was enacted in 2024.
The European Commission recently introduced the EU Kids Act. That framework sets an outright ban only for children under 13. Mitsotakis has previously stated his goal is to push the European Union in this direction. He aims to align EU policy with stricter age limits. The new Greek law will be enforced under the Digital Services Act. Failure to comply will result in fines. Australia was the first nation to enact a full social media ban for kids. Implementing age verification there has faced challenges. Greece plans to proceed with its own requirements for January 1, 2027.
Source: Engadget
