Greece blocks social media for under-15s

Starting January 1, 2027, children under the age of fifteen will no longer have unrestricted access to major social media platforms in Greece. This specific date marks the official launch of a new national law that officially restricts digital presence for minors, setting a clear timeline for implementation across the country.

The Greek parliament has formally enacted this measure, following an initial announcement by Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis earlier in the year. He described the legislation as difficult but necessary, positioning Greece as one of the first European Union nations to impose such a strict framework. The rules apply to popular services including TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, and X, compelling these companies to implement reliable and proportionate methods for verifying user ages.

Dimitris Papastergiou, the minister for digital governance and AI, argued that waiting for a perfect European law was not an option. He stated, "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." This sentiment reflects a broader urgency felt by policymakers regarding youth engagement with digital spaces.

Compliance is not optional, as companies that fail to meet the new standards face potential fines under the EU's Digital Services Act. Additionally, parents will be required to install state-backed applications, such as Kids Wallet or Gov.gr, on their devices. These tools pair with a child's device to block access, utilizing "age tokens" to verify age while minimizing the collection of personal data, a design choice aimed at protecting privacy.

The bill faced opposition from minority parties, but the prime minister’s majority government successfully pushed it through. This move builds on previous national efforts, such as the 2024 ban on mobile phones in schools. Public opinion polls indicate that a significant portion of the adult population supports this new restriction on children's social media usage.

Mitsotakis has indicated that Athens hopes to influence the broader EU to follow suit. While the European Commission recently proposed the EU Kids Act, that legislation currently only mandates a complete ban for those under thirteen. Australia remains the first country to implement a full ban, though it has faced significant hurdles in executing age verification effectively, a challenge Greece now aims to address with its own technical solutions.