Greece proposes 15-year age limit for social media access

The Greek government has presented a bill to the Cabinet aimed at protecting minors by setting a minimum age of 15 for accessing social media platforms. Presented by Ministers Dimitris Papastergiou and Akis Skertsos, the regulation is expected to take effect on January 1, 2027. To ensure consistency across school year groups, children born within the same calendar year will be considered to have reached the age limit on January 1.

The legislation seeks to mitigate risks associated with excessive social media use, including sleep disruption, concentration difficulties, exposure to inappropriate content, and mental health impacts. While the bill does not mandate a specific age-verification method, service providers will be required to implement reliable and proportionate solutions that protect user privacy and minimize data collection. Potential tools mentioned include the 'gov.gr' or 'kids.gov.gr' wallets.

This national move aligns with broader European efforts, including the development of the EU KIDS Act, which aims to create a wider framework for protecting children in digital environments, including video platforms, online gaming, and AI services. Oversight of the new rules will be managed by existing authorities, primarily the Hellenic Authority for Communication Security and Privacy (ESR) and the Data Protection Authority.