In brief
Greek officials convened with representatives from Meta, TikTok, Microsoft and will meet Google to develop age‑verification methods for a sweeping ban prohibiting users under 15 from social media. The law, passed on 23 October, will take effect January 1, 2027, with no parental exemptions, holding platforms responsible for breaches. The debate centers on verification practicality, child safety and the industry’s compliance timeline.
A series of talks between Greek officials and representatives from Meta, TikTok and Microsoft took place on 12 November 2026 to discuss age‑verification mechanisms ahead of the new social‑media ban that will take effect on 1 January 2027. The meetings were announced by a government statement from Digital Governance and Artificial Intelligence Minister Dimitris Papastergiou and State Minister Akis Skertsos and followed earlier sessions in November that saw Greek officials meet the same companies.
The law, approved by Parliament on 23 October, bans the use of all social‑media platforms for users born before 1 January 2013 – effectively cutting off all Greek citizens under 15 from the services – and does not provide any parental exemptions. Platforms will be held accountable for any violations, while users and parents are exempt from liability, the statement said.
According to data quoted by the paper Kathimerini, more than one in two students in the first three grades of high school began using social media between the ages of 10 and 12. The research also found that one in four students considered their use to be excessive, while one in five reported feeling edgy, insecure or distracted when denied access to mobile phones. The findings are cited as a key driver behind the ban.
The government wants platforms to present “a reliable age‑verification mechanism that they will put into effect from January 1,” the statement said. Platforms have been invited to submit a concrete plan by the beginning of December, the statement added.
The aim is for platforms to design and present reliable age verification mechanisms that they will put into effect from January 1.
Following the initial meetings, plans have been made for a session with Google officials on Friday. The dialogue with Microsoft was described as a first step toward a broader framework that would require all major platforms to roll out the same standards for age checks.
While the ban’s approval is a landmark move for child protection in the digital sphere, questions surround the feasibility of the proposed verification methods. Tech firms have yet to detail the specific technology they will use, and concerns have been raised about privacy, data accuracy and the costs of implementing platform‑wide age checks.
Analysts point to the potential for users to find workarounds, such as using other connectors, or even blocking their verification data. At the same time, the government says failure to provide adequate verification will trigger legal action against the platforms.
In a related debate, the Greek economic community has warned that a sudden ban may trigger a migration of younger users to other countries or piracy, underscoring the need for a balanced approach that does not disengage teens from the digital economy entirely. Conversely, public health advocates argue the policy will reduce harmful content exposure and media addiction rates among youth.
The law’s strictness stands out nationally and regionally. Several other European nations – including Austria and Canada – have also explored similar restrictions, while the United Kingdom considers a ban for children under 16. Greece may become the first country in the region to enforce a blanket prohibition without parental opt‑in, as noted by the independent media outlet that reported the government’s stance.
Future developments will hinge on the dialogue’s outcomes with the tech companies and the finalization of the verification models by December. The next move of the Greek government will likely clear the way for the law’s enforcement at the start of 2027, or, if the talks stall, bring the issue to a court challenge that could delay the ban.
As the discussions continue, the international community watches to see whether Greece can set a regulatory precedent that balances child protection with digital access, a question that will shape the industry’s approach to age verification for years to come.
