Greece Sets January 1, 2027 Deadline for Under-15 Social Media Ban

Greece has officially enacted a legislative ban on social media for children under the age of 15, setting a hard start date of January 1, 2027. The measure, which transforms a political pledge into binding law, marks a significant shift in how the European Union regulates digital access for minors. By targeting the most popular platforms, including TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, and X, the Greek government aims to force tech giants to implement robust, proportionate, and reliable age-verification systems before the new year begins.

Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, who initially proposed the measure earlier this year, described the legislation as "difficult but necessary." The bill passed the parliament despite opposition from minority parties, leveraging the ruling party’s majority to secure approval. This move positions Greece among the first European nations to impose such a strict restriction, bypassing the wait for a unified continental standard.

Dimitris Papastergiou, the minister for digital governance and AI, argued that inaction was no longer a viable option. "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 stated. His comments underscore the urgency felt by the administration to address the growing digital footprint of young Greeks.

Compliance with the new act is not voluntary; failure to adhere to the regulations will trigger fines under the EU’s Digital Services Act. To enforce the ban, parents will be required to download state-backed applications known as Kids Wallet or Gov.gr. These tools must be paired with a child’s device to block access to restricted platforms. Papastergiou explained that the apps utilize "age tokens" to verify a user's age while minimizing the collection of personal data, thereby protecting user privacy.

The political landscape surrounding the ban reflects a broader consensus among the adult population. Opinion polls indicate widespread support for the restriction, building on previous measures such as the 2024 ban on mobile phones in schools. Mitsotakis has stated that his government’s goal is to push the European Union in the same direction, aligning national policy with emerging continental frameworks.

The timing of the Greek law coincides with the European Commission’s recent introduction of the EU Kids Act. However, that proposed legislation stipulates an outright ban only for children under 13, making Greece’s under-15 threshold more stringent. As the first nation to enact a full social media ban for kids, Australia has faced significant challenges in implementing age verification. Greece’s new system aims to refine these verification processes, offering a potential model for other European states looking to balance digital connectivity with child safety.

With the effective date just a few months away, tech platforms and Greek families now face a critical transition period. The implementation of this law will serve as a major test case for the feasibility of large-scale age verification in the EU, potentially influencing how other nations approach the digital upbringing of their youngest citizens.