Greece’s parliament has approved legislation banning children under the age of 15 from using social media platforms, with the restriction scheduled to take effect on January 1, 2027, amid growing concerns about the impact of online platforms on minors’ health and safety.
Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said social media companies had two and a half months to develop systems for verifying users’ ages while protecting their privacy.
Greece is among seven European Union countries working with the European Commission to develop an age-verification solution.
The Greek government said the measure was intended to support parents in limiting children’s excessive social media use, including prolonged scrolling that it says deprives them of sleep, concentration and time spent with friends.
READ ALSO: Australian Government Bans Social Media Use for Under‑16s
The legislation follows similar efforts in other countries to restrict minors’ access to social media.
Australia became the first country to pass legislation curbing children’s use of social media last year, while a similar law in France was struck down by the country’s Constitutional Council in August.
Greece’s move comes amid wider debate in Europe and elsewhere over how governments should protect children online while addressing concerns about privacy and access to digital platforms.
