Greece is preparing to roll out sweeping new restrictions on minors’ online activity, set to begin in October 2025. Under the plan, children under 15 will automatically be blocked from accessing social media platforms, while those under 18 will face barriers to websites promoting or selling gambling, alcohol, tobacco, and pornography. The measures, which place control at the device level rather than on social media platforms themselves, will make Greece the first European Union member to introduce such a framework.
Device-Level Restrictions and the Role of Parents
Unlike Australia, where social media platforms will enforce age limits by requiring identity verification, Greece’s model is built into the devices themselves. Parents will be responsible for activating the controls by registering their child’s information. Once enabled, the government’s Kids Wallet app will determine the user’s age and apply automatic filters. For users under 15, this means social media applications such as Facebook, TikTok, Instagram, and X will be blocked outright. For those between 15 and 17, the same system will prevent access to online gambling sites, adult entertainment, alcohol and tobacco retailers, and dating services like Tinder.
Government sources confirmed that the Kids Wallet application integrates with Greece’s digital registry, allowing seamless age verification. As Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis explained, the initiative gives parents “an easy-to-use parental control app for social media use,” while shifting responsibility from platforms to devices.
European Commission and International Influence
The European Commission has been closely involved in testing age verification systems across several member states, including France, Spain, Denmark, and Italy. Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has stressed the importance of these trials, noting that the EU will work closely with Australia, which in October 2025 will implement its own ban on social media use for under-16s. Von der Leyen described Australia’s rules as “the world’s first pioneering social media ban” and said Europe would learn from its application.
A delegation from the European Commission is expected in Athens to review Greece’s preparations and exchange technical expertise. The EU’s goal is to ensure consistency across member states, while allowing for differences in execution. Greece, by moving ahead first, is positioning itself as the testing ground for the region.
Political Leadership and Public Concerns
Mitsotakis has consistently underlined the risks of unrestricted social media use. Speaking at a UN event hosted by Australia, he warned: “We are conducting the largest uncontrolled experiment ever on the minds of our children. We do not know what the consequences will be, but we are almost certain that they will not be positive.” He also argued that “we cannot invoke the difficulties in implementing these policies as an excuse for not doing anything about the problem.”
The Prime Minister pointed to earlier initiatives, such as banning mobile phones in schools, which he described as having a “transformational impact on the educational experience.” These measures, he added, show Greece’s determination to confront the dangers of digital platforms head-on.
Cooperation With Tech Companies
Greek authorities have been in talks with major technology firms, including Google, to explore the best implementation methods. Although companies have offered proposals, final decisions will rest with the Prime Minister. According to the Ministry of Digital Governance, the approach will rely heavily on EU technology and adapt it to Greece’s national systems.
While Australia’s framework compels platforms themselves to take responsibility, Greece’s approach is seen as stricter in one key respect: it blocks minors even if they attempt to view content without logging in, a loophole that still exists in Australia’s plan.
Broader Motivations Behind the Ban
The push for restrictions comes amid mounting evidence that compulsive scrolling on platforms like TikTok has damaging effects on young users. Studies have linked excessive use of short-form video content to attention disorders, anxiety, depression, and reduced academic performance. Experts argue that algorithms encourage overconsumption by constantly releasing dopamine “bursts,” in a process compared to addictive substances.
Mitsotakis has called this “a digital age of majority,” arguing that leaders have a duty to act based on scientific findings. He has also urged international cooperation, warning that unchecked exposure to manipulative content and predators poses a global challenge.
With October’s deadline approaching, Greece appears set to become the first EU country to put these ideas into practice, reshaping how minors interact with social media and other online platforms.
Source:
“End of social media for children up to 15 years old from October”, protothema.gr, September 28, 2025.
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