Greece is preparing to adopt one of Europe’s strictest measures to protect minors online, following the lead of countries such as Australia and several U.S. states. Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis announced that his government is ready to establish a “digital age of consent,” setting the minimum age for access to social media platforms at 15.
The initiative is part of a broader effort that will also restrict online gambling, the purchase of alcohol and tobacco, and access to dating applications for underage users.
The international context
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has already backed the idea of setting a minimum age for social media access, raising the issue at the UN General Assembly in New York.
Australia has legislated a ban on social media accounts for anyone under 16, through the Online Safety Amendment (Social Media Minimum Age) Act 2024, which will take effect in December 2025. The law requires platforms to take “reasonable steps” to block underage sign-ups. Meanwhile, Florida and other U.S. states are moving in the same direction, while China has long enforced strict restrictions on minors’ access to social media, online gaming, and mobile use.
The Greek plan and its tools
The government’s proposal includes two main instruments:
- parco.gov.gr platform: linked to the national digital registry, it will allow parents to verify a child’s age when buying their first mobile phone. It will also provide parental control functions for social media use.
- Kids Wallet app: designed to block minors from social media, gambling sites, online purchases of alcohol and cigarettes, and dating platforms. It will function across phones, tablets, and computers.
However, the use of Kids Wallet will not be mandatory, raising questions about whether parents could face penalties if their children continue to access social media despite the ban.
Challenges of enforcement
Despite these planned tools, experience shows that minors often find ways to bypass restrictions:
- logging in through parents’ or friends’ accounts,
- entering false birth dates during registration,
- using VPNs or anonymity tools,
- creating deceptive profiles with misleading images.
At the same time, social media platforms are reluctant to lose their youngest users – often referred to in media terms as the “dynamic audience.” Teenagers not only make up a large user base but also spend significant time online and are highly impressionable. While platforms officially endorse age restrictions, in practice they often seek creative ways to retain and attract younger audiences.
What comes next
The Greek government aims to introduce the legislation in October, with immediate effect. Its success, however, will depend heavily on how age verification is implemented and how effectively platforms cooperate.
The central question remains: can technology truly outpace the ingenuity of teenagers – and the strategies of social media companies?