Greece to Block Social Media for Kids Under 15
New rules in Greece will prevent children younger than 15 from using popular apps like TikTok and Instagram.
By Arjun Patel ·
Greece is taking a major step to limit children's access to social media. The country's parliament has passed a law that bans kids under 15 from using certain platforms. The measure was first proposed by Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis earlier this year. He called the bill "difficult but necessary." The new rules will go into effect on January 1, 2027.
The law covers major services including TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, and X. Companies that run these platforms must put age-verification methods in place. They must make sure their methods are reliable. The rule is among the first of its kind to be passed in the European Union. Greece's digital governance and AI minister, Dimitris Papastergiou, spoke about the decision. He said, "Children are sinking into the internet every day, and I believe a responsible government must do what it is obliged to do."
Parents will need to use specific tools to follow the new rules. They must download state-backed apps called Kids Wallet or Gov.gr. These apps connect to a child's device. They can then block access to the social media platforms. The apps are designed to protect privacy. They work by using age tokens. These tokens can confirm a person's age without sharing personal data.
If companies do not follow the law, they can face fines. These penalties fall under the EU's Digital Services Act. The bill was not supported by Greece's minority parties. The prime minister was able to pass it with the help of his majority government. Public opinion polls show that adults in Greece widely support the new rules for children.
Greece has acted before to limit technology for young people. In 2024, the nation banned mobile phones in schools. The prime minister has also said his goal is to push the European Union in this direction as well. The European Commission has introduced its own proposal to protect children online. That plan would only ban social media for children under 13. Australia was the first country to create a full social media ban for kids. Putting age verification into practice there has been challenging.
Source: Engadget
