Greece to ban social media for children under 15 from 2027
The Greek government plans to ban social media use for children under 15 starting 1 January 2027. Meanwhile, the European Union is discussing a European Commission proposal on common online protection rules for minors.
The Greek government plans to ban children under the age of 15 from using social media starting 1 January 2027. Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis announced in April on the video platform TikTok that such a ban was being prepared in Greece, a European Union member state. The restriction will apply to minors and will oblige social media companies to comply with the new requirements.
What a survey shows
In a recent survey of 2,500 schoolchildren, a quarter of respondents admitted to using social media excessively. One in five said they feel nervous or insecure and have difficulty concentrating when they do not have access to a mobile phone.
How enforcement is planned
Under the government's plan, social media companies that break the ban would face European supervision and sanction mechanisms. Under the EU's Digital Services Act, companies can be fined up to 6% of their global annual turnover for certain violations.
A proposal at European level
In September, the European Commission, the EU's executive body, presented a proposal called the "EU Kids Act" as a way to protect minors online. It provides for a ban on social media use by children under 13 and requires users to be at least 15 years old to create their own account. The European Parliament and the member states are currently discussing the proposal.
The age limit of 15 planned by Greece matches the minimum age for opening an account set out in the Commission's proposal. The source does not say how quickly or in what form common rules might be adopted at European level.
