Greece Passes New Law Banning Social Media for Children Under 15

Greece approved a new law on Friday, October 23, 2026, that stops children under 15 from using social media platforms.

Details of the Ban

The ban starts on January 1, 2027. Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis stated that platforms have two and a half months to create a system that checks user ages while keeping privacy safe. Greece also wants to help parents stop endless scrolling that steals sleep, focus, and time with friends from kids.

Global and Regional Context

Australia passed the first law to limit social media use by minors last year. France also passed a similar law, but the country's Constitutional Council struck it down in August. Meanwhile, Greece is one of seven European Union countries working with the European Commission to find a way to verify ages.

Context

Governments around the world are increasingly looking at ways to regulate tech companies and protect children from the harms of excessive screen time. Age verification remains a tough challenge for tech firms because they must confirm a user is old enough without collecting sensitive personal data.