Greece plans social media ban for under-15s from January

The Greek government presented a draft legislation on Monday that would ban children under 15 from accessing social media from Jan. 1, 2027.



The proposed law would require social media platforms to verify users' ages, Minister of State Akis Skertsos, Health Minister Adonis Georgiadis and Digital Governance and Artificial Intelligence Minister Dimitris Papastergiou told a news conference in Athens.



The initial focus would be on Instagram, Facebook and TikTok, although the list of platforms covered could change, Papastergiou said.



According to the government, the proposed restrictions were intended to limit children's exposure to harmful content, cyberbullying and platform features that encourage excessive use, while preserving access to digital services needed for communication, education and everyday activities.



Skertsos said Greece aimed to become the first European country to introduce comparable legislation. He added that the proposal had been developed in consultation with relevant European authorities to ensure compatibility with the EU regulatory framework.