Greece Bans Social Media Use for Children

On October 23, 2026, the Greek Parliament passed a bill banning social media use for children under 15 years of age. It will come into force on January 1, 2027.

Key Facts

Social Media Platforms: Social networking platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok will fall under its scope. The law is not limited to new accounts only.
Age Verification: Social media companies will have to adopt reliable measures to check users' age. Merely entering a date of birth will not be sufficient.
Kids Wallet: Greece's Kids Wallet app is one option for age verification. Its use is not mandatory; other reliable systems will also be acceptable.
Privacy Protection: The age verification system aims to confirm the required age limit without sharing dates of birth or other unnecessary personal information.
Existing Accounts: Companies must re-verify the age of existing active accounts to identify accounts created by entering incorrect ages.
Regulatory Framework: Relevant authorities, including Greece's telecommunications and postal regulatory body EETT, will monitor compliance within the Digital Services Act framework.
Objective of the Ban: To reduce the risks of excessive screen time, sleep and concentration issues, cyberbullying, and inappropriate online content among children.
European Cooperation: Greece is among seven European Union nations working with the European Commission to develop a shared age-verification solution.