Greece proposes minimum age of 15 for social media access

Greece has submitted a bill to parliament that would set 15 as the minimum age for accessing social media platforms. Filed on 9 October 2026, the proposal is titled Prohibition of the Use of Online Social Networking Services by Minors. It has been referred to the Standing Committee on Public Administration, Public Order and Justice, which is scheduled to begin examining it on 13 October.

The government intends the measure to take effect on 1 January 2027. It says the restriction aims to reduce children’s exposure to risks associated with social media use, including inappropriate content, sleep disruption, difficulties concentrating and potential effects on mental health.

The proposal does not prescribe a single technology for checking users’ ages. Instead, platforms would need to use methods that reliably establish whether users meet the minimum age while limiting the collection of personal information and protecting privacy.

The government has identified Greece’s Kids.gov.gr Wallet and Gov.gr Wallet as possible ways to support age checks, while allowing equivalent solutions. This approach leaves room for different technical methods, provided they meet the proposed requirements.

Enforcement would involve Greece’s existing regulatory authorities within the framework of the EU Digital Services Act (DSA), which establishes responsibilities for online platforms and mechanisms for regulatory oversight. Where a platform is established in another EU member state, cases could be referred through the system of Digital Services Coordinators.

The bill must still undergo parliamentary scrutiny before it can become law. Its committee examination is the next step in the legislative process.