Greece Considers Gaming Restrictions Following Social Media Ban for Minors
Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis has signaled a broadening of the government’s digital safety initiatives, revealing that gaming and online gambling are likely to be the next sectors subjected to age-based restrictions following the recent social media ban for minors under 15. Greece Social Media Ban
In a statement, Mitsotakis emphasized the government’s commitment to safeguarding children’s well-being online, linking the upcoming measures to ongoing concerns about mental health and digital exposure among youth.
This move places gambling alongside social media in Greece’s wider strategy to limit minors’ access to certain online platforms. The Prime Minister also announced that, starting January 1, 2027, online platforms will be required to implement mandatory age verification procedures.
Mitsotakis outlined the government’s future direction while defending the recent social media restrictions for children under 15. He mentioned that gaming and online gambling restrictions would follow as part of the same effort to regulate digital access based on age.
Details on what specific restrictions might be applied to gaming or gambling have not been disclosed. However, it is clear that the government views these sectors as integral to its broader digital policy aimed at protecting minors.
As part of the new policy, social media platforms will be legally obliged to verify users’ ages. These mandatory checks are set to become effective in early 2027, ensuring platforms confirm whether users meet the age requirements.
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Mitsotakis highlighted that this approach would equip parents with “two weapons” in managing their children’s social media usage: first, the prohibition of under-15s from using these platforms, and second, the enforcement of mandatory age verification measures by service providers. Greece Social Media Ban
