Greek Parliament Approves 2027 Social Media Ban for Under-15s

Greece will restrict social media access for children under 15 starting in 2027.

Parliament voted to approve the ban on October 23, 2026. Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis described the bill as difficult but necessary. The measure targets popular platforms including TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, and X. These services must implement age-verification methods that are both proportionate and reliable.

The law takes effect on January 1, 2027. Parents must download state-backed applications named Kids Wallet or Gov.gr. These apps pair with a child's device to block access to the designated services. Digital governance and AI minister Dimitris Papastergiou stated that the apps protect privacy by limiting data collection. He explained that the system uses age tokens to confirm a person's age while disclosing minimal personal information.

Papastergiou defended the decision to act before EU-wide rules were finalized. He noted that children are sinking into the internet daily and that a responsible government must act. Companies that fail to comply with the new verification requirements face fines under the EU's Digital Services Act.

Mitsotakis relied on his government's majority to pass the legislation, as minority parties opposed the measure. The country previously prohibited mobile phones in schools in 2024. Opinion polls indicate that the new restriction enjoys broad support among Greek adults.

The European Commission recently introduced the EU Kids Act, which aims for a similar outcome. However, that law calls for an outright ban only for children under 13. Mitsotakis stated his government intends to push the EU in the same direction.

Australia was the first country to enact a full social media ban for children. Implementing age verification in that country has proved challenging. Greece's approach with its state-backed apps will now have to address those difficulties.