Greece: No Social Platforms for Under-15s

Greece is moving to cut off social media access for its youngest citizens. Parliament has passed a law that bans children under 15 from using major platforms. The measure targets services like TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, and X. The government says the new rules are designed to protect kids who are, in the words of one official, "sinking into the internet every day." The law requires these platforms to put age-verification methods into place.

The legislative effort did not happen overnight. Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis first announced the proposal earlier this year. He described the bill as "difficult but necessary." Greece previously took action against mobile phone use in schools back in 2024. Minority parties opposed the new bill, but Mitsotakis pushed it through using his government's majority. Polls indicate that Greek adults widely support the ban on children's social media use.

To enforce the ban, the state will provide apps called Kids Wallet or Gov.gr. Parents must download these apps and pair them with their child's device. The apps are built to block access to restricted content. Officials state that these tools protect privacy by using "age tokens." These tokens confirm a user's age while minimizing the disclosure of personal data. Failure to comply with the act will lead to fines under the EU's Digital Services Act.

Greece's digital governance and AI minister, Dimitris Papastergiou, addressed the urgency of the situation. 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." He added that a responsible government must take action when children are affected. The law is now official, and it will go into effect on January 1, 2027.

The European Union is also looking at similar measures. The European Commission recently introduced the EU Kids Act. However, that law only mandates a ban for children under 13. Mitsotakis previously said his government's "goal is to push the European Union in this direction as well." This bill is among the first of its kind in the EU.

Australia was the first nation to enact a full social media ban for kids. Implementing age verification there has proved to be a difficult task. Greece will now begin preparing for its own rollout. The timeline for the new rules is set for the start of 2027.

What is next for Greece involves enforcing these new regulations. The government must ensure platforms comply with age-verification standards. Parents will need to engage with the state-provided apps to manage access. This move aligns Greece with other nations grappling with children's online safety.

Prime Minister Mitsotakis will likely continue to advocate for broader EU action. He aims to push the European Union toward similar restrictions. The debate over children's internet access remains active across the continent. Greece's law marks a significant step in that ongoing discussion.

The debate over children's online safety continues to grow. Greece's decision adds to the growing list of nations taking action. The government believes this step is vital for its youth. The new rules will shape how children interact with technology going forward.