Greece Approves Ban on Social Media for Under‑15s

Overview

• Greece’s Parliament approved the ban on Friday, October 23, 2026, and the rule will take effect on January 1, 2027.
• Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said platforms must verify users’ ages while protecting user privacy and that companies have roughly two and a half months to build the checks.
• Companies must ensure the rule covers existing accounts and may use state tools such as the Gov.gr Wallet and the Kids Wallet or develop their own verification systems.
• The measure faces legal and technical uncertainty because a similar French law was struck down by France’s Constitutional Council in August and courts will likely test proportionality and data‑protection safeguards.
• Greece is coordinating with six other EU countries and the European Commission on a joint verification approach, a move that could shape how platforms enforce age limits across the bloc and affect children’s online access and parental controls.