Written by Alice Njoki
Greece has passed legislation banning children under the age of 15 from using social media, making it one of the latest countries to introduce age-based restrictions on children’s access to online platforms. The law, passed by parliament on October 23, 2026, will take effect on January 1, 2027.
Under the new law, social media companies will be required to verify users’ ages and prevent children below the permitted age from accessing their platforms. Companies that fail to comply will face penalties. The government says the restrictions are intended to address concerns about children’s exposure to online risks and the effects of excessive social media use.
The legislation was pushed through parliament by Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis’s ruling New Democracy party, which used its parliamentary majority to secure its passage. However, it did not receive support from other political parties. The opposition socialist party PASOK had proposed an alternative that would have restricted access for children under 13 while allowing parental controls for those aged 13 and 14.
Greece’s decision follows similar action in Australia, which became the first country to introduce a nationwide social media ban for children under 16. The Australian restrictions took effect on December 10, 2025, requiring major platforms to prevent underage users from holding accounts. Companies that fail to take reasonable steps to enforce the ban can face fines of up to 49.5 million Australian dollars.
Indonesia also introduced restrictions in March 2026, requiring platforms considered high-risk to deactivate accounts belonging to children under 16. The rules cover services including TikTok, Instagram, Facebook and Roblox, with implementation taking place gradually.
Meanwhile, Malaysia has moved to prevent children under 16 from registering social media accounts, while the United Kingdom has announced plans for an under-16 ban, expected to be pursued through legislation. Other countries, including France and Denmark, have also taken steps towards introducing age restrictions, although their legal processes and implementation differ.
Back in Greece, social media companies have until January 2027 to prepare for the new requirements. The country joins an expanding list of governments seeking to place greater responsibility on technology companies for controlling children’s access to social media.
The restrictions mark another development in how governments are responding to concerns about children’s online safety, with age limits and age-verification requirements becoming an increasingly common part of national digital policies.