Greece’s parliament has approved a landmark law barring children under the age of 15 from using social media, making it one of the first European countries with a hard age limit for online platforms. The measure was passed on Friday, 23 October 2026, and will come into force on 1 January 2027, giving technology companies around two and a half months to put age-checking systems in place.
FAKTA
- What: A ban on social media use for children under 15 in Greece
- Approved: 23 October 2026, by Greece’s parliament
- In force: 1 January 2027
- Age checks: Platforms get about two and a half months to build privacy-protecting verification systems
- European effort: Greece is one of seven EU countries working with the European Commission on shared age verification
What the Greece social media ban under 15 requires
Under the new law, social media companies must find reliable ways to keep under-15s off their services while protecting users’ privacy and avoiding the collection of unnecessary personal information. Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said platforms have about two and a half months to devise age-verification methods that meet both tests. How well those systems work will decide whether the ban can be enforced in practice.
The government says it is standing by parents against endless scrolling, which it argues costs children sleep, concentration and time with friends. Officials believe the restrictions could encourage healthier routines, leaving more time for schoolwork, family activities and outdoor play.
Why Athens acted now
Greek officials argue that heavy social media use can affect children’s sleep, concentration and friendships, and that long hours of scrolling leave less room for study and real-life social contact. Supporters say the ban could help children sleep better, focus on their studies and build stronger friendships, and may prompt family talks about safer internet habits.
The law also drew criticism during its passage. Opposition parties raised concerns about the age-verification mechanism and the guarantees for protecting personal data, calling the measures broad and partial and arguing that they lacked sufficient scientific backing. Minister of State Akis Skertsos defended the regulation as necessary, effective, compatible with EU law and proportionate.
A growing global trend
Greece joins a growing international effort to limit children’s access to social media. Australia became the first country to pass legislation curbing minors’ use of these platforms last year, while France passed a similar law that its Constitutional Council struck down in August. These cases show that governments are taking children’s online safety more seriously, and also highlight the legal challenges of introducing and enforcing age limits.
Greece is also working with six other European Union countries to develop an age-verification system together with the European Commission. The goal is a practical way to check users’ ages while protecting personal information, and cooperation between countries could help create a more consistent approach. Its success will depend on enforcement and on whether young users find ways around it. For more international coverage, visit Watan News.
