Greece's social media ban for under-15s: What you need to know

...is moving to ban children under the age of 15 from accessing social media. Introducing a new legal framework expected to come into force on the 1st of January 2027. The measure covers services such as Instagram, TikTok and Facebook and places an obligation on platforms to apply appropriate, proportionate and reliable age verification methods. In this way, responsibility for effectively controlling access shifts to the companies themselves which will have to ensure the age limit is applied in practice and doesn't remain a mere formality. There is a risk of exposure to content that has been leaked, to exposure through the internet, to an addiction to use that does not coincide with the age or the time that a child should devote to social media. In Greece, a key role in implementing the measure is expected to be played by the Ministry of Digital Governance's Kids Wallet and GOV.gr platforms, serving as indicative age verification mechanisms. However, since the bill follows the principle of technological neutrality, companies will be able to choose different technical solutions, provided these meet the requirements of European legislation. The role of parents is also crucial. At least at the time that the platform, one of these three, asks for any confirmation, we, as parents, must be there and do what we must as parents. I think this is more important than the responsibilities we have as parents for the next day. The fact that the government takes the initiative and we legislate it, I think it helps the parents a lot. Because many times, for the parents to make such decisions, in their home, where the children have lost their mobile phones, they have lost their social media, and they have a difficulty in communicating, this can lead them to difficult interpersonal relationships. which is working on a similar plan.