Greece bans Social Media for children under 15

The Greek parliament has passed legislation banning children and teenagers under the age of 15 from using social media. The ban is scheduled to take effect on 1 January 2027, making Greece one of the first EU countries to introduce such a measure.

“Necessary and proportionate measure”

During the parliamentary debate, Minister for Digital Governance and Artificial Intelligence Dimitris Papastergiou described the ban as a necessary and proportionate measure compatible with EU law. He argued that uncontrolled internet use could lead to addiction and harm children’s mental health, adding that Greece could not afford to wait for a comprehensive European solution.

Under the new rules, social media platforms will be responsible for verifying users’ ages. The government-developed Kids Wallet app is intended to support this process. Parents can link the app to their child’s data, allowing their age to be digitally confirmed without sharing all of the child’s personal information with the platform.

Following France’s example

The move follows developments in France, which introduced a similar ban in July 2026. However, the country’s Constitutional Council overturned the law in August, citing disproportionate restrictions on freedom of expression and communication. President Emmanuel Macron has since called for a revised version.

At EU level, the European Commission presented its proposed EU Kids Act in September. Among other measures, it envisages a social media ban for children under 13 and access to personal accounts only from the age of 15. The proposal is currently being discussed by the European Parliament and member states.

Source: www.heise.de/news/Griechenland-verbietet-soziale-Medien-fuer-unter-15-Jaehrige-11499195.html