Greece Sets January 2027 Date for Under-15 Social Media Restrictions
Greek lawmakers have approved rules that will block minors under 15 from using major social networks starting next year.
By Xiaoyu Wang ·
Greece is set to bar children under 15 from using major social media platforms after parliament passed the legislation this week. The measure was first proposed by Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis earlier this year, and he signed off on the bill as "difficult but necessary." The new rules are scheduled to take effect on January 1, 2027.
The law targets large services such as TikTok, Instagram, Facebook and X. Under the new requirements, these companies must use reliable methods to check user ages. Platforms that fail to follow the rules could face penalties under the EU's Digital Services Act.
To enforce the restrictions, parents will need to install state-supported applications known as Kids Wallet or Gov.gr. These apps connect to a child's device and block access to restricted content. Digital governance and AI minister Dimitris Papastergiou explained that these tools are built to protect user privacy. "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," Papastergiou said.
The proposal moved through the legislature with the backing of the ruling majority, while opposition parties from minority groups voted against it. The government is moving forward despite the disagreement in parliament.
This is not the first time Greek officials have tried to limit device use for young people. In 2024, the country banned mobile phones inside classrooms. Recent surveys indicate that adults in the country generally support this newest effort to restrict social media use for minors.
Mitsotakis has previously stated that his government "goal is to push the European Union in this direction as well." European leaders have been debating similar rules across the continent. The European Commission recently introduced the EU Kids Act, though that proposal only requires age limits for children who are 13 or younger, which differs from the Greek standard.
Other nations have looked into similar bans as well. Australia became the first country to pass a full social media ban for children, though putting those age checks into practice has proven difficult. Greece is now moving ahead with its own plan for enforcement in early 2027.
Source: Engadget
