Greece Bans Social Media for Under-15s From January 2027
Greece’s parliament has passed a law banning children under 15 from social media, placing the country among a growing group of nations that are curbing how young people use popular apps. The Greece social media ban takes effect on January 1, 2027, and will require age verification on social networks, with harsh penalties for companies that fail to comply.
Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis first announced the plan in April, choosing TikTok itself to explain what he called a “difficult but necessary” measure. After a heated parliamentary debate that began on Thursday and stretched into Friday, his conservative New Democracy party used its majority to pass the bill. According to the Ana news agency, no other party backed the legislation.
How the Greece social media ban passed
The vote exposed sharp political divisions. The opposition socialist Pasok party abstained after pushing an alternative proposal: a ban for under-13s combined with parental controls for 13- and 14-year-olds. Left-wing and nationalist parties voted against the bill outright.
The law gives platforms two and a half months to devise a way to verify users’ ages while protecting their privacy, Mitsotakis said. Greece is also one of seven European Union countries working with the European Commission on a shared age-verification solution. The government says it is standing by parents to help curb the “endless scrolling” that deprives children of sleep, concentration and time with their friends.
The move follows a similar law in France, which was struck down by the country’s Constitutional Council in August. Australia last year became the first country to introduce such a ban for minors, barring under-16s, and more than 20 countries have passed similar laws, according to an AFP tally.
Why governments are moving now
Critics of social platforms argue that networks use addictive algorithms to keep children glued to their screens, and they warn that excessive scrolling can damage mental health. Those arguments have gained traction with parents and lawmakers across Europe.
The bans have also faced pushback. Free-speech advocates question whether age gates are the right tool, and sceptics doubt how well the rules can be enforced when children routinely find workarounds. Greece’s answer is the penalty regime: firms that do not verify ages face heavy fines, though the exact enforcement machinery is still being built.
What it means for Pakistan’s own age-verification debate
Pakistan is having a parallel conversation. The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority has already explored age-verification rules for social media access by minors, and the Islamabad High Court has weighed in on protecting children online. Greece’s law will be watched closely here, since any EU-wide age-verification system could shape the tools that global platforms eventually deploy in Pakistan as well.
For now, parents in Pakistan remain the first line of defence. Built-in parental controls on major apps already allow age limits, screen-time caps and content filters, and PTA’s earlier age-verification push shows regulators are paying attention. A global trend is clearly forming: after Australia’s under-16 ban, proposals to restrict children’s social media access keep appearing, and governments are even screening social media for visas. Greece’s law is the latest and one of the strictest so far.
FAQ
When does Greece’s social media ban take effect?
The ban takes effect on January 1, 2027. Platforms have two and a half months from the law’s passage to put age-verification systems in place.
Which children does the ban cover?
Children under 15. The opposition proposed a narrower ban for under-13s with parental controls for 13- and 14-year-olds, but that alternative failed.
Which countries already restrict children’s social media use?
Australia was the first, banning under-16s last year. More than 20 countries have passed similar laws, according to an AFP tally, though enforcement and scope vary widely.
