Greece bans social media access for minors under 15

Greece social media ban age verification minor protection digital regulation

The Greek Parliament has approved a law prohibiting social media access for minors under the age of 15. The legislation, proposed by the government of Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, is scheduled to take effect on January 1, 2027.

Under the new regulations, social media platforms are required to implement reliable age-verification systems to ensure compliance. To protect user privacy, the law emphasizes that verification processes should only transmit necessary information, such as whether a user meets the age requirement, rather than full personal details. The government suggested that platforms could potentially utilize state-supported tools like 'Gov.gr Wallet' or 'Kids Wallet' for this purpose, though use of these specific apps is not mandatory.

The measure aims to protect children from the mental health risks associated with excessive internet use, specifically targeting the effects of 'infinite scrolling' on sleep, concentration, and social development. Non-compliant platforms face significant financial penalties of up to 6% of their global annual turnover.

The bill passed with the support of the ruling New Democracy party, while opposition parties expressed varying levels of dissent. The PASOK party abstained from the vote after proposing an alternative that would have banned access for children under 13 and implemented parental controls for ages 13 and 14. Other opposition parties, including SYRIZA and KKE, voted against the measure.

Entities

Akis Skertsos · Akis Skirtzis · Dimitris Papastergiou · European Commission · Greek Parliament · Kyriakos Mitsotakis · New Democracy · PASOK · SYRIZA

Claims

What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.

[● 28 SOURCES] Digital platforms will be responsible for verifying user age. www.e-radio.gr · www.ekirikas.com · tempo24.news · www.sbctv.gr · rpp.pe · +23 more
[● 4 SOURCES] PASOK proposed a graduated access model for 13- and 14-year-olds with parental supervision. www.ieidiseis.gr · tempo24.news · www.flash.gr
[● 15 SOURCES] The 'Kids Wallet' can be used for age verification without sharing exact birth dates. www.e-radio.gr · www.sbctv.gr · rpp.pe · www.cmjornal.pt · www.in.gr · +10 more
[● 12 SOURCES] New Democracy was the only party to vote in favor of the principle of the bill. www.e-radio.gr · tempo24.news · www.sbctv.gr · rpp.pe · www.cmjornal.pt · +7 more
[● 2 SOURCES] The law targets specific social networking services like Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok. brusselssignal.eu
[○ 1 SOURCE] The government claims 80% of Greek society supports the regulation.
[● 39 SOURCES] The ban is scheduled to take effect on January 1, 2027. www.e-radio.gr · www.ekirikas.com · tempo24.news · www.sbctv.gr · www.businessdaily.gr · +33 more
[● 34 SOURCES] The Greek Parliament approved a law banning social media for minors under 15. www.e-radio.gr · www.sbctv.gr · rpp.pe · www.cmjornal.pt · athina984.gr · +29 more
[● 6 SOURCES] The law applies to both new and existing social media accounts. prensapuntofijo.com · lineadirectaportal.com · deultimominuto.com · www.cmjornal.pt · www.albiladpress.com · +1 more
[● 3 SOURCES] Non-compliant platforms face fines of up to 6% of their global turnover. www.thebest.gr · best-tv.gr · www.trakyaolay.com
[○ 1 SOURCE] The PASOK party proposed an alternative ban for children under 13. www.albinfo.ch
[● 39 SOURCES] Social media platforms must implement reliable age-verification systems. cronica.com.gt · www.albinfo.ch · www.tagesschau.de · sinjali.com · pernambuconoticias.com.br · +34 more