Greece Bans Social Media for Children Under 15 Effective 2027
The Greek Parliament has passed a landmark law banning children under 15 from accessing social media platforms. The new restrictions will officially take effect from January 1, 2027, making Greece a pioneer in digital child protection within the European Union.
What happened
The Greek Parliament has approved a comprehensive bill titled 'Prohibition of the Use of Online Social Networking Services by Minors', officially banning children under the age of 15 from creating or holding social media accounts. The vote concluded in Athens, Greece, setting the minimum age for independent access to social networking services at 15 years.
The legislative measure was introduced and defended in Parliament by Dimitris Papastergiou, the Minister of Digital Governance and Artificial Intelligence, following initial announcements made by Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis in April 2026. The new restrictions are scheduled to take effect officially on January 1, 2027.
The restrictions apply specifically to profile-based social media platforms such as TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, and X. Standard direct messaging applications like WhatsApp, Viber, and Messenger, as well as broader educational internet services, remain exempt from the ban.
To ensure enforcement, the law places the burden of age verification directly on platform operators rather than relying on self-declaration. It supports state-backed applications such as the Kids.gov.gr Wallet and Gov.gr Wallet, which utilize privacy-preserving 'age tokens' to confirm age without revealing a minor's full identity or birthdate. Non-compliant platforms risk heavy penalties of up to 6% of their global annual turnover under the European Union’s Digital Services Act (DSA) framework.
Important dates
| Bill Passed by Greek Parliament | 23 October 2026 |
|---|---|
| New Restrictions Take Effect | 1 January 2027 |
📌 Static GK links
- Country: Greece
- Capital: Athens
- Currency: Euro
- Prime Minister: Kyriakos Mitsotakis
What candidates should do
- Note down the minimum age limit set by Greece (15 years) and compare it with Australia's under-16 ban for international policy questions.
- Memorize the effective date of the Greek law (January 1, 2027) for current affairs questions in upcoming banking and SSC exams.
PrepZen analysis
This policy development marks a significant regulatory step in the European Union regarding online child safety, leveraging the Digital Services Act (DSA) framework for enforcement. For competitive exam aspirants, questions from this topic are likely to focus on the specific age limit, the effective date, the affected platforms, and international precedents such as Australia's similar underage social media restrictions.
Practice questions
Q1. What is the minimum age set by the Greek Parliament's new law for independent social media access?
Q2. From which date will the new social media ban for children under 15 take effect in Greece?
Q3. Which country previously implemented a nationwide social media ban for minors under 16 in December 2025?
Minimum age for independent access is now 15 years.
New rules will take effect from January 1, 2027.
Australia implemented a similar ban for under-16s in Dec 2025.
🎯 Key Point: Greece bans social media for children under 15.
FAQs
What is the age limit set by Greece for social media access?
The Greek Parliament passed a law setting the minimum age for independent social media access at 15 years.
When does the Greek social media ban take effect?
The new restrictions are scheduled to take effect on January 1, 2027.
Which platforms are covered under the Greek social media ban?
The ban applies to profile-based social media platforms including TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, and X.
Are messaging apps included in the Greek social media ban?
No, standard direct messaging applications such as WhatsApp, Viber, and Messenger are exempt from the ban.
What is the penalty for platforms that fail to comply with the new Greek law?
Non-compliant platforms risk facing penalties of up to 6% of their global annual turnover under the European Union’s Digital Services Act (DSA) framework.
Sources and references
- thehindu.com (www.thehindu.com)
- thenationalherald.com (www.thenationalherald.com)
- macaubusiness.com (macaubusiness.com)
- siliconrepublic.com (www.siliconrepublic.com)
Prepared by PrepZen for exam preparation. Consult the linked sources for original announcements and current details. Corrections policy. Spotted an error? Write to prepzen.app@gmail.com.
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