Greece to Enforce Under-15 Social Media Block via State Apps in 2027

Greece will become the first European Union member state to legally ban children under the age of 15 from using major social media platforms starting January 1, 2027.

The timeline for this restriction began with Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis announcing the intent earlier this year. The Greek Parliament recently voted to approve the bill, passing it through the government's majority after minority parties opposed the measure. This follows a 2024 national ban on mobile phones in schools.

The regulation targets specific services, including TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, and X. These companies must implement age-verification methods that are described as proportionate and reliable. Digital governance and AI minister Dimitris Papastergiou argued that waiting for a unified European rule was not an option. He stated that children are sinking into the internet every day and that a responsible government must act now.

The enforcement mechanism relies on two state-backed applications: Kids Wallet and Gov.gr. Parents are required to download one of these apps and pair it with their child's device. The software will block access to the restricted services. Papastergiou noted that the apps are designed to protect privacy and limit data collection by using age tokens that confirm age with minimal personal information disclosure.

Financial penalties for non-compliance will be handled under the EU's Digital Services Act. Companies that fail to meet the new verification standards face fines. The government aims to use this domestic framework to push the broader European Union toward similar legislation. The European Commission recently proposed the EU Kids Act, which targets an outright ban only for children under 13.

Mitsotakis described the bill as difficult but necessary. He said the government's goal is to lead the EU in this direction. Opinion polls indicate broad support for the restriction among Greek adults. Australia previously enacted a full social media ban for children, though it has faced challenges in implementing age verification. Greece's new system will now test whether state-backed apps can solve that technical hurdle.