Greece's new law forces parents to use state apps to block under-15s from TikTok, Instagram

Greek lawmakers voted to cut off children under 15 from major social media platforms, making the country one of the first in Europe to codify such a restriction. The new law takes effect on January 1, 2027, and targets services including TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, and X.

Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis described the legislation as difficult but necessary. The bill requires these platforms to implement age-verification methods that are both reliable and proportionate. If companies fail to comply, they face fines under the EU's Digital Services Act.

Dimitris Papastergiou, the digital governance and AI minister, defended the decision to act before EU-wide rules were finalized. He stated that waiting for perfect European legislation would have meant doing nothing. Papastergiou noted that children are sinking into the internet daily, and a responsible government must act accordingly.

Parents will be required to download state-backed applications called Kids Wallet or Gov.gr. These apps pair with a child's device to block access to the restricted services. Papastergiou said the apps are designed to protect privacy and limit data collection.

The system uses age tokens to confirm a person's age while disclosing as little personal information as possible. This technical approach aims to balance access control with data protection for young users.

Mitsotakis relied on his government's majority to pass the bill after minority parties opposed it. Greece already banned mobile phones in schools in 2024, and recent polls show broad support for the new social media restrictions among adults.

The Prime Minister said his government aims to push the EU in the same direction. The European Commission recently introduced the EU Kids Act, but that proposal only calls for a ban for children under 13. Australia remains the first country to enact a full ban, though its age verification implementation has faced challenges.