Greece Enacts Social Media Ban For Kids Under 15

Greece has passed a law banning children under 15 from social media platforms beginning January 1, 2027. The legislation requires platforms to implement reliable age verification and parents to use government-backed apps to restrict access, with penalties for noncompliance under the EU's Digital Services Act. Engadget reports: "It would have been very easy to do absolutely nothing today and wait for the perfect European law. But the challenge is here. Children are sinking into the internet every day, and I believe a responsible government must do what it is obliged to do," said Greece's digital governance and AI minister, Dimitris Papastergiou.

The legislation was opposed by Greece's minority parties, so Mitsotakis used his majority government to pass the bill. The nation previously barred mobile phones in schools in 2024, and opinion polls show that the new social media ban for children is widely supported by Greece's adult population. Mitsotakis previously said that his government's "goal is to push the European Union in this direction as well."

good

[OrangeTide]

Adults over 60 next?

Re:

[bill_mcgonigle]

I thought we lured them all onto Facebook then ran for the hills?

Re: good

[OrangeTide]

True. It's like a zombie movie tactic. Lure them into a barn and close the doors.

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[Ol Olsoc]

I thought we lured them all onto Facebook then ran for the hills?

Since I'm required to be on that cesspit, and all jokes aside, there are plenty of under 60's there. Surprisingly seems to be as many thirst traps as say, instagram. There are even some proper uses for it.

But yes, social media for kids is terribly toxic. And I'm certain some will get around the ban. But we shouldn't make perfect the enemy of good.

As we fall off this bridge, we really need to attempt to do an assessment of how it affects older people as well. People might remember I'm an amateur researc

Re:

[Retired Chemist]

It would probably work better on them. The under 15 crowd will be quicker to find a way around it.

Re:

[Retired Chemist]

Whether can be a lawsuit depends on the laws of the country. Creating a fake id is universal.

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[luther349]

you bet they hacked that thing knowing what was coming.

Re:

[Anne Thwacks]

The best possible plan to get a new generation of Open Source supporters!

Re: good

[OrangeTide]

I'm in the US, also likely illegal to do this. But it would have to be tested in courts.

But lots of stuff is totally legal here: free speech, religion, cannabis, guns, police brutality, etc.

America (US, Canada, and Mexico) is different than Germany in two important ways: Free refills and free toilets.

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[luther349]

yet we got states passing the same thing in the usa.

Death By A Thousand Cuts

[SlashbotAgent]

The internet will be dead soon.

Re:

[Mirnotoriety]

> The internet will be dead soon.

The Web will soon be, so as we get all our information filtered through corporate AI bots :o

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[Cajun Hell]

Let's hope all the governments believe it.

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[taustin]

Soon? Only if you reverse the flow of time.

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[quenda]

The internet will be dead soon.

If only we could learn from history.
Back in the 70s and before, they put a minimum age on driving, made cars have seatbelts, imposed speed limits, emission controls.

And now, the inevitable result, cars are dead and we have to walk everywhere or ride horses.

Nice

[stealth_finger]

Nice way to force your government app on people

Re:Nice

[JaredOfEuropa]

The proposed EU age verification app is a good deal less intrusive than any of the nasty mechanisms that some social media is already employing. Most of those are a privacy nightmare. The EU app, in contrast:
- Site / App operator does not get your identity, only a proof of age.
- Government does not get to see which sites you visit.
- Actual verification takes place once, and whatever ID you use does not need to be stored (and can't be subsequently stolen)
- App is open source, so the workings can be verified.

It's not about the kids

[rsilvergun]

Nobody gives a rat's ass about kids except their own. This is because of Trump. Also Russia.

This is an effective way to kick American social media companies out of your country. Like most socially destructive and unpleasant things you kind of have to get em young. If you don't hook kids early on they don't become terribly interested in social media.

What they tend to do is they tend to find a platform their friends are on and just communicate with their friends. They don't engage in the Doom scrolling

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[luther349]

you know some Russian data centers got boomed and the amount of spam bots on x almost halted entirely.

Instead of offering something to replace, they ban

[lxnt]

Instead of offering something to replace, they ban.

Re:

[luther349]

we know none of these bans will work.

Dirt

[Fons_de_spons]

Teacher here. I see kids using social media great. But every year without exception, we get an incident were kids brutally attack another on whatsapp or whatever. They dig a big pit, kick the kid in and laugh at him from the edge. If he tries to get out? They kick him back in. Kids can be brutal. He? This year it was a he.
Few years back, they started a fight with "the odd one out" and filmed it all and put it out there. The leaders were even proud of it. Disgusting. Fools, we could see all who participated. The worst part? We are a nice school. Kids are well behaved. Pretty sure it is a lot worse in other schools.
Then about the pedos fishing for the innocent..., about the Russians trying to get us to fight eachother... Sure, this is the worst part. It is the dirt of the internet and there is plenty of good on social media as well. Sure most kids can navigate it safely. But plenty can't.
Ban it up to twelve? YES! Ban it up to 14? YES, ban it up to 16? It may be a bit long. Well, at least, that is my opinion. Cheers!

Re: Dirt

[sodul]

Parent of a 11y old boy in California here.

At first I thought the screen freak out was an overreaction. I do believe that screen time is a good way to open the kids to the world and learn many things. Over time my opinion has evolved.

I am now worried about "brain rot" content created by other kids and teenagers. I do joy allow "pay to win" and loot box games (Netflix mobile games are a good clean option). Games with heavy social aspect like Roblox are banned. And the worst part is our son just refused to do

Re:

[Fons_de_spons]

Yup... my youngest one, has a screentime limit of 1 hour (very generous). During the summer hollidays, he got bored. I had work to do. So we clashed a bit. He got grumpy for not getting more screentime. Dad, you are behind a computer for hours! Yeah, I am working. He layed face down in the sofa in protest. Gave him a while to ... accept it. 15 minutes later, he enters my little office. Dad, I burried a mouse and a bird one year ago. Can I dig em back up? I want to find the skeleton.
Sure! Go ahead. Didn't

you all miss the main point

[codeButcher]

You all know that even if you are an adult, it would still require you to prove your age. I'd say it is technically pretty hard to prove JUST your age - your age is inextricably linked to your identity, else it would be just a number on your say-so. Some sites now require a copy of government ID, some record your face, etc.

So most governments (as it seems this one) offer to put in place infrastructure for age verification. Great, the socnet will only get your age out of this system in exchange for your log