Athens Locks Out Preteens From Major Social Networks
Greece mandates the use of government-developed apps to enforce a social media ban for children under 15, effective January 1, 2027.
By Carmen Wojcik ·
A new digital curfew descends on Greek households in January.
The Greek parliament approved a law that restricts social media access for children under the age of 15. The measure takes effect on January 1, 2027. This makes Greece one of the first European Union members to implement such a legal framework. Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis announced the initiative earlier this year. He described the bill as difficult but necessary.
The regulation covers major platforms including TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, and X. These services must implement age-verification methods that are both proportionate and reliable. Companies that fail to comply face fines under the EU Digital Services Act. The law shifts a portion of the enforcement burden to families. 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 restricted services.
Dimitris Papastergiou, the minister for digital governance and AI, defended the national approach. He argued against waiting for broader European legislation. "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 government designed the apps to limit data collection. The system uses age tokens that confirm a user's age while disclosing minimal personal information. Papastergiou stated that this structure protects privacy. The apps serve as the primary mechanism for parents to manage their children's digital access.
Mitsotakis relied on his government's majority to pass the bill, as minority parties opposed the legislation. The move follows a 2024 prohibition on mobile phones in schools. Opinion polls indicate that Greek adults broadly support the new restriction. Mitsotakis said the government aims to push the European Union in the same direction.
The European Commission recently introduced the EU Kids Act, which targets children under 13. That proposed law calls for an outright ban for that younger age group. Greece's new rule extends the restriction to those under 15. Australia previously enacted a full social media ban for children, but it faced challenges with age verification. Greece's state-app model seeks to address that technical difficulty directly.
