Greece bans TikTok & Co for under-16s - is this coming to us too?

Digital house arrest for minors?

From the end of October, TikTok, Instagram and the like will be a thing of the past - at least for children and young people under the age of 16 in Greece. The Mediterranean state is the first country in the EU to pull the emergency brake and prohibit minors from accessing social networks by law. The government calls this a "decisive step towards protecting the mental health of children".

The whole thing is made possible by a new app called "Kids Wallet". It is installed directly on the smartphone and recognizes whether the device belongs to a child. If this is the case, platforms such as Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), Instagram or TikTok are automatically blocked. Dating apps such as Tinder or sites with gambling, alcohol or pornography are also blocked - even for under-18s.

The technology behind it was developed in cooperation with the European Commission and is to be rolled out throughout Europe in the future.

The new technology: control on the device, not just in the account

What Greece is doing goes much further than previous measures in other countries. While many platforms have so far simply relied on age information when registering (which anyone can easily falsify), the new system works via a kind of "device passport".

With the "Kids Wallet", a device is clearly assigned to an underage user - and the app automatically blocks certain content and applications. Even those who want to log in without an account cannot get through. Technically clever, but also a pretty harsh encroachment on digital freedom.

In the long term, this system is to be integrated into the new digital EU ID card (eID), which is due to be introduced at the end of 2026. This would allow age ratings to be checked securely and automatically throughout the EU - at the touch of a button.

Austria sees need for action - but is not (yet) doing anything

Discussions are also taking place in Austria. State Secretary Alexander Pröll (ÖVP) calls the current situation a "blatant abuse". Although there is an official minimum age of 14 for social networks, how many young people adhere to this? And how many platforms monitor this at all?

Pröll wants to make providers more accountable, but at the same time points to the lack of technical solutions. The step taken in Greece is a wake-up call for other countries.

Australia has been taking a similar approach for months now, banning minors under the age of 16 from accessing social media - also with state-controlled proof of age.

Where does responsibility end and control begin?

Of course, protecting children and young people online is important - no question about it. But the path that Greece is now taking also has a catch: it is based on total control. The technology is deeply embedded in the device, restricts, blocks and monitors.

This is not only an encroachment on personal freedom, but also raises completely new questions: What if a teenager is surfing on their parents' cell phone? Who is in control? And what about education and media literacy?

Instead of relying on technology alone, it would make more sense to get parents, schools and young people more involved. Because one thing is clear: a ban is no substitute for a conversation. And an app is no substitute for education. If you want to protect children, you have to teach them how the digital world works - not just how to shut it out.