In brief
Greek officials held talks with Meta, TikTok, and Microsoft to design age‑verification mechanisms for a ban on children under 15, to take effect Jan 1 2027. The ban, approved by Parliament on Oct 23, bars all users born before Jan 1 2013 from social‑media platforms, with no parental exemptions.
Greek Digital Governance and Artificial Intelligence Minister Dimitris Papastergiou and State Minister Akis Skertsos met with representatives of Meta Platforms, TikTok, and Microsoft on 12 November 2026 to discuss age‑verification methods for a law that will ban children under 15 from using social media on January 1, 2027.
The government’s statement said, “The aim is for platforms to design and present reliable age verification mechanisms that they will put into effect from January 1.” BTA reported the statement, and the statement indicates that these mechanisms should be ready by the law’s coming‑into‑force date.
Platforms have been invited to submit a specific plan by the beginning of December, BTA noted, but no such plan has yet been presented. A meeting with Google officials is planned for Friday, the same source added, leaving the Google discussion as an unconfirmed future event.
Parliament approved the ban on October 23, the law prohibits all Greek users born before January 1, 2013 from accessing social‑media platforms, including those who already have accounts. No parental approval or any exception is allowed, with platforms held responsible for any breaches, as outlined by the government statement.
Recent research cited in the meeting found that more than half of first‑year high‑school students had used social media between ages 10 and 12, and that one in four reported excessive use. One in five felt edgy, insecure or distracted when denied a mobile phone, the data quoted by Kathimerini, according to BTA.
