15: The new age cutoff for Greek social media users

Starting next year, millions of young users will face a new digital boundary in one of Europe's major economies. Greece has officially enacted a law that bans children under the age of 15 from using social media platforms. The measure takes effect on January 1, 2027, marking a significant shift in how the country regulates digital access for minors.

The legislation covers major services such as TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, and X. These platforms are now required to implement age-verification methods that are both reliable and proportionate. Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis announced the measure earlier this year, describing the bill as difficult but necessary. It stands as one of the first national bans of its kind within the European Union.

Dimitris Papastergiou, the minister for digital governance and AI, emphasized the urgency of the situation. He stated that it would have been easy to wait for a perfect European law, but he felt a responsible government had to act. Papastergiou noted that children are increasingly immersed in the internet, making immediate intervention essential.

Compliance with the new act will be enforced through fines under the EU's Digital Services Act. Parents will also play a crucial role in the process. They will need to download state-backed applications, such as Kids Wallet or Gov.gr, onto their children's devices. These tools are designed to block access to social media when a user is under the age limit.

The apps aim to protect privacy by using age tokens. This technology confirms a user's age while minimizing the amount of personal data disclosed. This approach seeks to balance the need for verification with the protection of young users' digital footprints. The government hopes this method will reduce the burden on families while ensuring effective enforcement.

The bill passed despite opposition from minority parties, as Mitsotakis relied on his majority in parliament to secure approval. This move follows a 2024 decision to ban mobile phones in schools. Recent opinion polls indicate that the new social media ban has widespread support among the adult population in Greece. The government aims to use this national law as a catalyst for broader EU action.

While Australia was the first country to enact a full social media ban for kids, the implementation of age verification there has proven challenging. The European Commission recently introduced the EU Kids Act, which currently stipulates an outright ban only for children under 13. Mitsotakis has expressed a goal of pushing the entire European Union in the same direction as Greece.