Greece approves legislation barring children under 15 from major social networks starting in 2027

The Greek parliament has approved a law prohibiting children under the age of 15 from using social media platforms, including TikTok, Facebook, Instagram, X, and LinkedIn. Approved late on October 22 after more than 16 hours of debate, the ban will take effect on January 1, 2027. Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis pushed the measure through with his governing New Democracy majority, calling it a necessary step to address teen anxiety, poor sleep, and addictive app designs. [1][2]

The mandate relies on digital platforms to verify user ages, with failure to comply risking penalties under the European Union's Digital Services Act. Parents cannot grant permission to bypass the rules, and existing underage accounts will not be grandfathered in. To confirm eligibility without harvesting personal information, platforms will prompt users to scan a QR code using state-backed apps such as Kids Wallet, which transmit age tokens confirming whether an individual is over or under 15 while keeping messaging apps accessible. [1][2]

The policy follows an Australian under-16 ban enacted in December 2025 and arrives as other European nations, including the United Kingdom, Spain, and Slovenia, pursue their own youth online restrictions. While Greek officials hope to influence broader European Union policy—which is drafting a Kids Act targeting users under 13—privacy organizations have cautioned that verifying age on such a broad scale could ultimately erode general online anonymity. [1][2]