In brief
Greek government officials held talks with Meta, TikTok and Microsoft to discuss reliable age‑verification mechanisms for a forthcoming ban on social‑media use by children under 15, which will kick in 1 January 2027. The law, approved on 23 October, prohibits users born before 1 January 2013 from accessing platforms, with no parental exemptions. Government officials said platforms will be responsible for breaching the ban.
Athens – Greek officials met in Athens on 12 November 2026 with representatives from Meta, TikTok and Microsoft to discuss age‑verification methods for a law that will ban social‑media use by children under 15, effective 1 January 2027.
The talks were led by Digital Governance and Artificial Intelligence Minister Dimitris Papastergiou and State Minister Akis Skertsos, and followed earlier meetings with TikTok and Microsoft that began in November. A meeting with Google officials is planned for Friday, as reported by the online edition of Kathimerini.
“The aim is for platforms to design and present reliable age verification mechanisms that they will put into effect from January 1,” the statement said.
According to the government statement, platforms have been invited to present a detailed plan by the beginning of December.
Research cited by the officials shows that more than one in two first‑three‑year high‑school students in Greece began using social media at ages 10‑12, with one in four considering their use excessive and one in five feeling edgy, insecure or distracted when denied access to a smartphone.
The new law, approved by Parliament on 23 October, prohibits all Greek users born before 1 January 2013 from using social‑media platforms – Facebook, Instagram, Messenger, WhatsApp, Threads, TikTok, Microsoft‑based services – and does not allow parental exemptions, even with approval. Platforms would be held accountable for breaches of the law, not children or their parents, officials said.
