Starting in 2027, Greece Will Bar Children Under 15 from Using TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, and X

Greece Imposes Social Media Ban for Users Under 15

According to НВ — Техно: From January 1, 2027, Greek law will prohibit children younger than 15 from accessing popular social media platforms including TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, and X. This measure, announced by Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis and backed by the ruling parliamentary majority, faced opposition from minority parties. It marks a significant move addressing concerns over children's online safety in Greece.

Strict Age Verification and Parental Controls Required

The legislation mandates that social media companies implement effective and proportionate age verification systems. Platforms that fail to comply risk fines under the EU Digital Services Act. To help enforce the restrictions, parents will need to use dedicated apps like Kids Wallet or Gov.gr, which verify age through tokens while protecting users’ personal data from exposure.

Greece will be the first European Union member state to enforce such a ban on social media use for those under 15. Meanwhile, the European Commission has introduced the EU Kids Act, proposing a social media age limit of 13. Additionally, Greece has already banned mobile phones in schools starting in 2024. Although Ukraine does not currently have similar restrictions, it introduced a draft law on October 8, 2023, aimed at protecting children online through age limits, enhanced data privacy, and prohibiting personalized ads targeting minors.

Greek Minister of Digital Governance and AI, Dimitris Papastergiou, stated: "It would have been very easy to do absolutely nothing today and wait for a perfect European law."

Prime Minister Mitsotakis emphasized his government’s intention to encourage the EU to follow Greece’s lead on this issue.

With this pioneering legislation, Greece takes a bold step toward safeguarding young users in the digital world, setting a precedent that could influence other countries considering similar protective measures amid the growing impact of digital technology on youth. The law also highlights the importance of aligning national policies with broader European initiatives like the EU Kids Act to enhance online safety for children across the continent.