Greece to ban social media for under-16s – and under-18s for gambling

Key points: 

– Greece will be the first EU country to implement new rule inspired by Australia’s own ban 

– Ban will be enforceable on the device side, with parents activating the security protocols 

– Phones or other devices used by under 16s will then block social media content and sites featuring adult content including gambling 

Greece has announced that it is preparing to follow Australia’s lead and introduce a new ban on people under the age of 16 using social media. 

The new rule will be extended to those aged up to 18 if the young person in question attempts to access a site that offers or promotes products and services related to gambling, as well as cigarettes, alcohol and pornography. 

Execution of this ban will take place on the part of the devices themselves – age verification processes will be implemented in the security controls of a device that is used and owned by a child. 

If the parents of the child follow the protocols laid out and identify the user as being under 16, the ‘Kids Wallet’ application will automatically filter and control access to social media platforms. 

This move will make Greece the first EU country to impose such a ban, though it is part of movements and research from the EU Commission itself to test out processes by which age verification could be integrated more robustly into applications. 

Good to know: The Hellenic Gaming Commission partnered with Mindway AI earlier in 2025 to launch a gamified self-test for people to voluntarily assess their gambling behaviour 

Ursula von der Leyen, President of the EU Commission, previously announced that France, Spain, Greece, Denmark and Italy would be the countries involved in these tests. 

Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis has confirmed this to be the case and now it seems that Greece will be the first European country prepared to bring the new system into effect. 

At an event in Australia, Mitsotakis has said of uncontrolled use of social media: “We are conducting the largest uncontrolled experiment ever with the minds of our children. We do not know what the consequences will be, but we are almost certain that they will not be positive.” 

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Rory Calland

Journalist

Rory Calland is a journalist and Staff Writer at Gambling Insider, having joined the publication in June 2025. Based in the United Kingdom, he covers breaking news, industry developments and market trends across the global gambling and iGaming sectors.

At Gambling Insider, Rory reports on key commercial, regulatory and financial stories affecting operators, suppliers and stakeholders, producing timely analysis and exclusive coverage for the brand’s professional B2B audience. He has also showcased his reporting on notable industry developments such as major funding rounds, regulatory movements and market expansion.

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