Greece mandates age verification for social platforms as ban on under-15s takes effect

Starting January 1, 2027, social media users in Greece under the age of 15 will be barred from accessing major digital platforms, marking a significant shift in European digital regulation. The law, which was officially enacted by the Greek parliament this week, applies to prominent services including TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, and X. This legislative move makes Greece one of the first nations within the European Union to implement such a strict age restriction, following an initial proposal by Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis earlier this year. Mitsotakis described the measure as "difficult but necessary" to protect young users from the increasing complexities of the internet.

The core mechanism of the new law requires social media services to implement proportionate and reliable methods for verifying user ages. To enforce this, the government is introducing state-supported applications, specifically named Kids Wallet and Gov.gr, which parents will need to download. These apps are paired with a child’s device to block access if the user is under 15. According to Dimitris Papastergiou, Greece’s minister for digital governance and AI, these tools are engineered to protect user privacy by utilizing "age tokens." This technology allows for age confirmation while minimizing the amount of personal data disclosed to third parties.

Papastergiou emphasized the urgency of the legislation, noting that a responsible government must act when children are increasingly immersed in the digital landscape. He argued that waiting for a perfect European-level law would have meant doing nothing in the face of a growing challenge. "Children are sinking into the internet every day," he stated, highlighting the belief that immediate national action was required rather than delaying for broader EU consensus. The minister’s comments underscore the government’s intent to take a proactive stance on digital safety for minors.

Non-compliance with the new regulations will result in financial penalties under the existing EU Digital Services Act, providing a clear enforcement pathway for regulators. While the bill faced opposition from minority political parties, the governing majority secured its passage. Public sentiment appears largely in favor of the change; recent opinion polls indicate widespread support among the Greek adult population. This follows a 2024 national decision to ban mobile phones in schools, suggesting a sustained governmental effort to limit children’s exposure to digital devices in both educational and personal settings.

The Greek government views this national law as a catalyst for broader European action. Mitsotakis has stated that the goal is to encourage the European Union to adopt similar measures across the bloc. This aligns with recent moves by the European Commission, which has introduced the EU Kids Act. However, the European proposal currently stipulates an outright ban only for children under the age of 13, making the Greek threshold of 15 more restrictive. The global context includes Australia, which was the first country to enact a full social media ban for children, though the nation has faced significant challenges in effectively implementing age verification systems.

As the January 2027 deadline approaches, the success of the Greek model will likely be watched closely by other European policymakers. The integration of state-backed apps with private platforms presents a unique technological and privacy challenge. The effectiveness of the "age token" system will be crucial in determining whether the law achieves its goal of protecting minors without creating excessive data burdens. For now, the Greek legislation stands as a definitive step in the ongoing debate over how much access young people should have to social media networks.