Greece Sets Social Media Cutoff for Children Under 15

Greece will block social media access for children under the age of 15 starting January 1, 2027. The country became one of the first European Union members to pass such a restriction. The Greek Parliament voted to approve the measure on October 23, 2026. This action follows an announcement by Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis earlier in the year.

Mitsotakis called the bill difficult but necessary. The law covers major platforms, including TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, and X. These services must implement age verification methods that are reliable and proportionate to the task. The goal is to stop children under 15 from using these digital spaces without proper checks.

Digital governance and AI minister Dimitris Papastergiou defended the national move. He argued that waiting for a perfect European law was too slow. 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."

Companies that fail to meet the new standards face fines under the EU's Digital Services Act. Parents must use state-backed apps called Kids Wallet or Gov.gr to manage their children's devices. These apps pair with the child's phone and block access to restricted services. Papastergiou said the apps use age tokens to confirm age while collecting the least amount of personal data possible.

The legislation passed with support from the government majority. Minority parties in the Greek Parliament opposed the bill. Greece banned mobile phones in schools in 2024. Recent opinion polls show that Greek adults largely support the new social media restriction.

Mitsotakis said the government aims to push the European Union toward similar rules. The European Commission recently introduced the EU Kids Act. That proposed law calls for a ban only for children under 13. Australia was the first country to enact a full social media ban for children. Implementing age verification in Australia has been challenging, a hurdle Greece now faces.