Greek Families Must Install Government Apps to Block Under-15s From Social Media

Starting January 1, 2027, parents in Greece will need to install specific government applications to manage their children's online access. The new law restricts social media use for anyone under the age of 15. To comply, families must use the Kids Wallet or Gov.gr apps. These tools pair with a child's device to block access to major networks including TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, and X.

Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis signed the order following a vote in Parliament. He called the legislation "difficult but necessary." The measure makes Greece one of the first European Union members to legally limit social media access for preteens. The rule requires platforms to implement age-verification methods that are both proportionate and reliable.

Digital governance and AI minister Dimitris Papastergiou explained why the government acted before an EU-wide standard was ready. He stated, "It would have been very easy to do absolutely nothing today and wait for the perfect European law. But the challenge is here. Children are sinking into the internet every day, and I believe a responsible government must do what it is obliged to do." He noted that the state apps use "age tokens" to verify age while collecting minimal personal data.

Companies that do not meet the new verification standards face fines under the EU's Digital Services Act. The law passed with support from Mitsotakis's majority, as minority parties opposed the bill. Greece previously banned mobile phones in schools in 2024. Recent polls show that most Greek adults support the new restrictions on children's social media use.

Mitsotakis said his government aims to push the EU toward similar rules. The European Commission recently proposed the EU Kids Act. However, that draft law only calls for an outright ban for children under 13. Australia remains the first country to enact a full social media ban for children. Implementing age verification there has been difficult, a challenge Greece now faces with its new app-based system.