The key facts

  • The law bans social media for children under 15 and takes effect on January 1, 2027
  • Only New Democracy voted in favor; PASOK abstained, while SYRIZA, Greek Solution, KKE, Niki and Freedom Course voted against
  • Age verification will use the Kid's Wallet app; Greece is one of seven EU countries with such an initiative

Parliament passes law banning social media for minors

Greece's parliament has passed a law banning the use of social media by minors under 15. According to Deutsche Welle, the vote took place on Thursday; AFP reports that debates in parliament began on Thursday and continued on Friday. The law will take effect on January 1, 2027. Only the ruling conservative party New Democracy voted in favor of the bill, using its majority. The opposition parties SYRIZA, Greek Solution, KKE, Niki and Freedom Course voted against, while the socialist PASOK abstained. According to AFP, PASOK had sought an alternative version: a ban on social media for children under 13 and parental controls for 13- and 14-year-olds.

The government's position

Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis announced the ban plans in April, explaining the 'difficult but necessary' measure in a TikTok video — one of the platforms most popular among Greek youth. Minister of Digital Governance and Artificial Intelligence Dimitris Papastergiou called the step 'necessary, effective, proportionate and consistent with EU law,' the Greek newspaper Kathimerini reports. He compared the restrictions to age limits on the sale of alcohol and tobacco and said lawmakers have no time to wait for Brussels to adopt a 'perfect European law': 'Let us send the message that the problem of uncontrolled internet use, which leads children to addiction at the expense of their mental health, cannot continue.' According to him, platforms will have to determine by January 1 whether the accounts and services they host are intended for adults. 'We owe our children their childhood. That is exactly what we are doing today. We owe it to them to protect them,' Papastergiou said.

Age verification mechanism

For age verification, the government proposes the Kid's Wallet app. Papastergiou emphasized that it was created according to EU codes and technical specifications and 'does not transmit any personal data about children or users other than whether a person is over or under 15 — not even dates of birth.'

International context and criticism

The initiative follows Australia, which last year became the first to introduce a similar ban — for persons under 16. According to AFP, more than 20 countries have passed similar laws; Greece is one of seven EU countries seeking age-verification standards for social media. Supporters of the measures argue they will curb 'endless scrolling,' which deprives children of sleep, attention and time for play and socializing. Critics point out that social media use algorithms that keep children glued to screens, which can harm mental health. At the same time, the bans face resistance from free-speech advocates, and skeptics doubt their effectiveness.