Greece is set to introduce new restrictions on digital access for young people, becoming the first EU member state to implement such measures.
The initiative will ban children under the age of 16 from using social media platforms, while those under 18 will be prohibited from accessing online gambling, as well as websites promoting alcohol, tobacco or adult content.
The policy will be enforced via the "Kids Wallet" application, which parents can activate on their children's devices. Once enabled, the tool will verify the user's age and automatically block access to restricted platforms and content.
According to officials, the device-side enforcement aims to strengthen parental oversight while ensuring compliance across multiple services.
Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis highlighted concerns about the uncontrolled impact of digital platforms on younger generations, describing the widespread use of social media as "the largest uncontrolled experiment ever with the minds of our children." He went on to stress the importance of proactive measures to safeguard young people's wellbeing.
The decision aligns with EU-level initiatives to test more robust age verification processes in digital environments. Greece - alongside France, Spain, Denmark and Italy - has been participating in these trials under the guidance of the European Commission. Greece, however, is the first to move from testing to full implementation.
The move complements broader national efforts to promote safer digital and gaming environments. Earlier this year, the Hellenic Gaming Commission partnered with Mindway AI to launch Gamalyze - a gamified self-test designed to help players assess their gambling behaviour and identify potentially harmful patterns.
Additionally, in May of this year, the Greek Gaming Supervision and Control Committee (EEEP) signed a Memorandum of Cooperation with the Health Quality Assurance Organization (OHQA) to address problem gaming through prevention, treatment and support initiatives.
