Greece Passes Social Media Ban for Children Under 15, Starting in 2027

ATHENS, October 23, 2026 — Greece’s parliament has approved a law barring children younger than 15 from using social media, turning a government proposal announced in April into legislation scheduled to take effect on January 1, 2027.

The measure places responsibility on social-media platforms to check users’ ages and restrict access for children below the threshold. The government argues that the rules will help address concerns about compulsive use and the effects of prolonged screen time on young people. The law does not take effect immediately, and how age checks will work in practice remains an important implementation question.

Parliament divided over the restrictions

Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis’s New Democracy party secured passage using its parliamentary majority. The opposition PASOK party abstained after advocating a different age threshold and parental controls for younger teenagers; other opposition parties voted against the bill. Supporters frame the restriction as a child-protection measure, while critics have raised questions about its effectiveness and the implications of age verification for privacy and access.

Part of a wider international shift

Greece joins governments seeking stronger age limits on social platforms. Its approach follows Australia’s restrictions for users under 16 and comes amid discussion of common European standards. Whether the Greek rules can be enforced consistently across platforms will depend in part on technical verification systems and coordination with European Union rules.

Sources and further reading: Reuters, October 23, 2026; Agence France-Presse, October 23, 2026; ERT News, October 23, 2026; Office of the Greek Prime Minister, April 16, 2026.

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