European Digital Policy: Greece Finalizes Social Media Age Ban

Greece has officially enacted a legislative framework that prohibits children under the age of fifteen from using major social media platforms. The measure becomes active on January 1, 2027, marking a significant shift in how the nation regulates digital access for minors. This implementation follows Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis' initial announcement of the policy earlier this year. By moving forward with domestic legislation, Athens is positioning itself as a pioneer within the European Union regarding the enforcement of digital age limits.

The new statute applies to prominent services including TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, and X. These platforms are now required to implement age-verification methods that are both reliable and proportionate to the user base. The law establishes a clear compliance deadline that coincides with the start of the new year. This approach aims to create a standardized mechanism for identifying users without imposing excessive burdens on the platforms or the minors themselves.

Digital Governance and AI Minister Dimitris Papastergiou emphasized the urgency of the situation during the parliamentary discussions. He noted that it would have been simple to wait for a broader European regulation, but the current state of the internet demanded immediate action. Papastergiou argued that children are increasingly immersed in digital environments, and the government has a duty to protect them. This perspective aligns with the broader political narrative that the issue cannot be deferred indefinitely.

Compliance with the new rules will be enforced through the EU's Digital Services Act, which provides the legal basis for imposing fines on non-compliant services. To assist families, the government will support the use of specific applications such as Kids Wallet or Gov.gr. These tools are designed to pair with a child's device and block access to restricted platforms. The system relies on age tokens, a technology intended to verify a user's age while minimizing the collection of personal data to protect privacy.

The legislative process was not without contention. Minority parties in parliament opposed the bill, but the ruling majority successfully pushed it through to enactment. This follows Greece's 2024 decision to ban mobile phones in schools, indicating a sustained governmental focus on digital boundaries for youth. Recent opinion polls suggest that the adult population largely supports the move, providing a solid democratic mandate for the change.

Prime Minister Mitsotakis has stated that the domestic law is intended to influence broader EU policy. While the European Commission has recently proposed the EU Kids Act, that legislation currently only mandates an outright ban for children under thirteen. Greece's stricter threshold for under fifteen serves as a model for the continent. This development comes as Australia, the first country to implement a full social media ban, continues to face challenges in effectively executing age verification systems.