Greece sets the stage for a new era in digital parenting
A landmark law will block social media access for Greek minors under 15 starting next year, marking a significant shift in how the nation manages its youth's online presence.
By Layla Fontaine ·
The digital landscape for millions of young Europeans is about to shift dramatically. Greece has officially become the first nation in the European Union to pass a law that restricts social media usage for children under the age of 15.
The legislation was approved by the Greek parliament and is scheduled to take effect on January 1, 2027. Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis had previously described the measure as difficult but necessary. The new rules apply to major platforms including TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, and X. These services will be required to implement age-verification methods that are both reliable and proportionate to their size.
Digital Governance and AI Minister Dimitris Papastergiou emphasized the urgency of the action. He noted that waiting for a perfect European law was an option that would have been easy to take. However, he argued that the challenge is present and that children are increasingly immersed in the internet. He stated that a responsible government must fulfill its obligation to act.
The law creates specific compliance requirements for both tech companies and parents. Platforms that fail to adhere to the new standards will face fines under the EU's Digital Services Act. On the parental side, guardians will need to use state-backed applications called Kids Wallet or Gov.gr. These apps must be paired with their child's device to block access to social media services.
To address privacy concerns, the government designed these applications to minimize the amount of data collected. They utilize a system of age tokens that can verify a user's age without revealing extensive personal information. Papastergiou highlighted that this approach is intended to protect user privacy while ensuring the law is effectively enforced.
The path to passage was not without political friction. Minority parties in Greece opposed the legislation, but the ruling majority government was able to push the bill through. This move follows a 2024 decision to ban mobile phones in schools, signaling a broader governmental focus on managing technology in young lives. Recent opinion polls suggest that the adult population in Greece widely supports this new social media restriction.
Mitsotakis has indicated that the Greek government aims to influence the broader European Union to adopt similar measures. The European Commission has recently introduced the EU Kids Act, which aligns with this goal. However, that proposed legislation currently stipulates an outright ban only for children under the age of 13, making the Greek threshold slightly higher.
Greece is not the first country to attempt such a restriction. Australia was the pioneer in enacting a full social media ban for children. However, the Australian experience has shown that implementing age verification can be technically challenging. As Greece prepares for the 2027 deadline, the success of its new system will likely be watched closely by other nations.
The implementation of this law marks a significant step in the evolving relationship between governments and digital platforms. By setting a clear age limit, Greece is testing the waters for stricter digital regulations across Europe.
