Greece sets the date: Under-15s lose social media access in 2027

Greece has officially become one of the first nations in the European Union to pass a law banning children under the age of 15 from using popular social media platforms, with the regulation set to take full effect on January 1, 2027. This legislative move, which was first proposed by Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis earlier this year, marks a significant shift in how the country manages digital access for its youngest citizens. The law specifically targets major services such as TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, and X, requiring these companies to implement reliable and proportionate methods for verifying a user's age before granting full access.

A primary driver behind this legislation is the concern that young users are increasingly immersed in digital environments without sufficient safeguards. Dimitris Papastergiou, the Greek minister for digital governance and artificial intelligence, emphasized the urgency of the situation during the announcement. He noted that while waiting for a comprehensive European law might have been an easier path, the daily reality of children interacting with the internet necessitated immediate national action. Papastergiou described the measure as difficult but necessary, arguing that a responsible government must act to protect its youth rather than wait for perfect, but slower, continental regulations.

The implementation of this ban relies heavily on new technology and parental involvement. To comply with the new rules, parents will be required to download specific state-backed applications, known as Kids Wallet or Gov.gr, onto their children's devices. These apps are designed to block access to social media platforms for users under 15. To ensure that this process does not compromise privacy, the apps utilize a technology referred to as 'age tokens.' These tokens allow the system to confirm a user's age without requiring the disclosure of extensive personal data, thereby minimizing the amount of information collected by the platforms.

For social media companies, the stakes of non-compliance are high. If platforms fail to apply the required age-verification methods, they face potential fines under the EU’s Digital Services Act. This creates a direct financial incentive for major tech firms to invest in robust verification systems. The Greek government’s approach is not merely a suggestion but a mandate, ensuring that the barrier to entry for under-15 users is technically enforced at the platform level rather than relying solely on self-reporting or parental monitoring.

The political path to this law was not without friction. Minority parties in the Greek parliament opposed the bill, but Prime Minister Mitsotakis was able to push it through using his majority government. The move aligns with a broader trend in the country, which previously banned mobile phones in schools in 2024. Public opinion appears to be on the side of the government, with recent opinion polls indicating that the adult population in Greece widely supports the new social media restrictions for children.

Greece’s leadership views this national law as a stepping stone for the rest of Europe. Mitsotakis has stated that his government’s goal is to influence the European Union to adopt similar measures across the continent. This aligns with recent moves by the European Commission, which introduced the EU Kids Act. However, there is a notable difference in scope: the proposed EU law currently stipulates an outright ban only for children under the age of 13, whereas the Greek legislation extends the ban to all users under 15.

The challenge of age verification is not new, but it remains technically complex. Australia was the first country to enact a full social media ban for children, yet it has faced significant difficulties in implementing reliable age-verification systems. Greece is now attempting to refine this approach through its use of 'age tokens' and dedicated state apps. As the January 2027 deadline approaches, the success of the Greek model will likely serve as a key test case for whether such bans can be effectively enforced without creating excessive privacy burdens or technical hurdles for families.

For the general public, the change means a structured transition period over the next few months. Parents will need to familiarize themselves with the new apps and the pairing process, while tech companies will need to finalize their verification infrastructure. The law represents a definitive line in the sand for digital childhood in Greece, prioritizing protection and privacy over unrestricted access. As the date for enforcement nears, the focus will shift from political debate to the practical realities of how millions of users and platforms adapt to this new digital standard.