Greece Sets a 15-Year Age Limit for Social Media Access

Starting on January 1, 2027, Greek families will face a new digital landscape where children under the age of 15 can no longer freely access major social media platforms. This legislative shift marks a significant change in how young users interact with digital spaces, requiring parents to actively manage their children's online presence through specific government-backed applications. The law targets popular services including TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, and X, effectively creating a digital age gate that will impact millions of households across the nation as the new year begins.

The measure was officially enacted by the Greek parliament following an announcement by Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis earlier in the year. Mitsotakis described the legislation as "difficult but necessary," positioning it as a critical step for a responsible government. By passing this bill, Greece becomes one of the first countries within the European Union to impose such a strict social media age restriction, moving ahead of broader continental regulations that are still in development.

Under the new rules, social media companies are mandated to implement proportionate and reliable age-verification methods. If platforms fail to comply with these requirements, they face financial penalties under the existing EU Digital Services Act. This legal framework shifts the burden of verification onto the tech companies while simultaneously empowering parents with new tools to control access from their end.

To enforce the ban, parents will be required to download specific applications known as Kids Wallet or Gov.gr. These apps must be paired directly with their child’s device to block access to social media services. Dimitris Papastergiou, Greece's digital governance and AI minister, explained that these tools are designed to protect user privacy. He noted that the apps utilize "age tokens" to confirm a user's age while minimizing the amount of personal data disclosed, striking a balance between security and privacy.

Papastergiou argued against delaying action until a comprehensive European law was finalized. "It would have been very easy to do absolutely nothing today and wait for the perfect European law," he said. He emphasized that the challenge is immediate, noting that children are "sinking into the internet every day" and that the government is obliged to act rather than wait for ideal conditions.

The path to passing the bill was not without political friction. Minority parties in Greece opposed the legislation, but Prime Minister Mitsotakis utilized his government's majority to push the measure through. This move follows a 2024 decision to ban mobile phones in schools, indicating a sustained governmental focus on limiting young people's digital exposure. Recent opinion polls suggest that this direction is well-received by the adult population, who largely support the new social media ban for children.

The Greek government views its national law as a pilot for broader EU action. Mitsotakis has stated that his administration's goal is to push the European Union in the same direction. The European Commission has recently introduced the EU Kids Act, which aligns with this trajectory, although that proposed legislation stipulates an outright ban only for children under the age of 13, making Greece's threshold of 15 more restrictive.

Greece is not the first country to tackle this issue globally. Australia previously enacted a full social media ban for kids, setting a precedent for other nations. However, the Australian experience has highlighted the practical difficulties of implementing age verification. Greece's new system, with its specific app-based approach and token technology, represents a distinct strategy to address these challenges while enforcing the ban starting next year.

As the January 2027 deadline approaches, the focus will shift to the technical implementation of the Kids Wallet and Gov.gr apps. Families will need to ensure their devices are properly configured to comply with the new standards. The success of the law will depend on how effectively these digital tools function in daily life and how smoothly the transition is managed for both users and platforms.

This legislative milestone places Greece at the forefront of digital age regulation in Europe. By acting now, the country aims to establish a model for protecting young users from the potential pitfalls of social media. The coming months will be crucial for testing the reliability of the age-verification methods and assessing the impact on families and tech companies alike.