Greece Announced It Will Also Ban Social Media For Children Under 15 Starting January 2027

Greece will ban children under 15 from using social media starting January 2027.

On Wednesday, April 8, Greece's prime minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis announced the ban in a video on social media, saying it is to tackle rising anxiety and sleep issues as a result of addictive platform designs.

"I know that many of you are going to be angry," Mitsotakis said. "Our aim is not to keep you away from technology but to combat addiction to certain applications that harm your innocence and your freedom."

Greece's ban will bar children born from 2012 onwards, specifically targeting platforms that promote "endless scrolling," including Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and Snapchat.

Once the law is enacted, platforms will be legally required to verify the ages of all users in the country and remove anyone aged 15 or younger.

Parents will also be able to download a state-backed app called Kids Wallet, which can be paired to their child's device and block access.

Companies that fail to comply will face fines under the EU's Digital Services Act, the EU's main law regulating large online platforms.

The ban is set to be discussed in parliament in summer 2026 after a three-month EU consultation, and if approved, it will be applied starting Jan. 2027.

Mitsotakis also urged for a "unified European framework" to be in place by the end of 2026, including a 15-year digital age limit and six-monthly age checks, in a letter to European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen.

Greece’s move came after Australia became the world’s first country to ban social media for children under 16 in December 2025, a move followed by Spain, France and Denmark.

Social media companies have pushed back against the bans, arguing they are unenforceable and could cut off vulnerable teenagers from online communities that provide mental health support.

Reddit is currently suing Australia's government in its highest court, seeking to overturn the law.

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