The Greek parliament has passed legislation banning children under the age of 15 from accessing social media platforms, with the law set to take effect from 1 January 2027. The move positions Greece as a potential pioneer among European Union member states in imposing such a restriction, according to Greek media reports.

What the Law Requires

Under the new legislation, social media companies must implement age-verification measures to ensure compliance with the ban. Platforms that fail to meet these requirements could face fines of up to 6 per cent of their global annual turnover — a penalty structure modelled on existing EU digital regulation frameworks.

What the Government Said

Digital Governance and Artificial Intelligence Minister Dimitris Papastergiou addressed parliament ahead of the vote on Thursday evening, describing the measure as both necessary and aligned with the EU's existing regulatory architecture. 'It would have been very easy to do absolutely nothing today and wait for the perfect European law. But the challenge is here. Children are sinking into the internet every day, and I believe a responsible government must do what it is obliged to do,' he said.

Minister of State Akis Skertsos argued that technology must be regulated in ways that give children greater freedom to grow up safely. Health Minister Adonis Georgiadis framed digital addiction as a public health challenge, warning that excessive social media use can negatively affect children's sleep, concentration, social relationships, and psychological development.

Broader Context and Global Comparisons

The legislation is part of broader government efforts to shield children from harmful online content, cyberbullying, and platform design features that encourage excessive use. This comes amid a growing international push to regulate minors' access to social platforms.

Australia banned social media for children under 16 in December 2024, after the federal parliament passed the Online Safety Amendment (Social Media Minimum Age) Bill 2024 in November of that year, requiring platforms to take 'reasonable steps' to prevent underage account creation.

In France, parliament passed legislation on 21 July aimed at protecting minors from social media risks. However, the French Constitutional Council ruled on 14 August that the key provision banning under-15s was unconstitutional — a legal hurdle Greece will now need to navigate as the law comes into force.

What Happens Next

With enforcement set to begin in early 2027, Greece's approach will be closely watched by other EU governments weighing similar measures. The compatibility of the law with the bloc's broader digital regulation framework remains a key question, particularly in light of France's constitutional setback. Platform compliance timelines and the robustness of age-verification technology will be central to the law's real-world effectiveness.