Greece Sets a New European Benchmark as It Mandates Social Media Age Limits for Under-15s

Greece has officially enacted a legislative framework that will prohibit children under the age of 15 from accessing major social media platforms, a move that positions the country as a pioneer in European digital regulation. The law, which passed the Greek parliament following an announcement by Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis earlier this year, is scheduled to take effect on January 1, 2027. By implementing this measure now, Athens is moving ahead of broader European legislative timelines, establishing a precedent that could influence how the rest of the continent manages online access for minors.

The legislation targets prominent digital services, including TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, and X. Rather than relying solely on self-reported birthdates, the act mandates that these platforms implement proportionate and reliable age-verification methods. This requirement represents a significant shift in the tech industry’s regulatory burden within the EU, forcing companies to develop and deploy robust technical solutions to distinguish between adult and juvenile users before granting full access to their networks.

The decision to act unilaterally was driven by a belief that waiting for a comprehensive European solution would be too slow. Dimitris Papastergiou, Greece’s minister for digital governance and AI, argued that the government had a duty to respond to the immediate challenges faced by young users. He noted that while it would have been simpler to wait for a perfect EU-wide law, the daily immersion of children in the internet environment necessitated national action. Papastergiou described the situation as a challenge that required a responsible government to fulfill its obligations rather than remain passive.

To enforce the ban, the state will introduce specific technological tools for families. Parents will be required to download government-backed applications, such as Kids Wallet or Gov.gr, which will be paired with their child’s device to block unauthorized access. These apps are designed to prioritize privacy by using "age tokens." This mechanism allows for the confirmation of a user’s age without requiring the extensive disclosure of personal data, addressing common concerns about surveillance and data collection in the context of age verification.

The legal framework also introduces financial incentives for compliance. Platforms that fail to adhere to the new standards face the risk of fines under the existing EU Digital Services Act. This integration with broader EU regulations ensures that the Greek law is not an isolated measure but part of a larger enforcement ecosystem. The use of the Digital Services Act as a penalty mechanism provides a clear financial deterrent for major tech companies that may resist implementing the new verification protocols.

The passage of the bill was not without political friction. Opposition parties from the minority contested the measure, but Prime Minister Mitsotakis utilized his majority in parliament to secure its approval. This legislative move follows a 2024 decision to ban mobile phones in schools, indicating a consistent governmental strategy to limit digital distraction and exposure for minors during their formative years. Recent opinion polls suggest that the adult population in Greece broadly supports this new social media restriction, providing a political foundation for the policy's implementation.

The Greek initiative is also intended to serve as a catalyst for broader European change. Mitsotakis has stated that a key goal of his government is to push the European Union in the same direction. While the European Commission has recently introduced the EU Kids Act, that legislation currently stipulates an outright ban only for children under the age of 13. By setting the bar at 15, Greece is testing the waters for a higher age threshold, potentially influencing the final parameters of future EU-wide regulations.

As the January 2027 deadline approaches, the success of this model will likely be scrutinized by other nations and regulatory bodies. Australia was the first country to enact a full social media ban for children, but it has faced challenges in implementing age verification effectively. Greece’s approach, which combines legislative mandates with specific state-backed parental tools, offers a different pathway. The coming months will provide critical insights into how well these age tokens and parental apps function in practice, potentially shaping the global conversation on digital childhood.