France has taken the lead in the European Union by introducing a phased ban on social media access for children under the age of 15. This legislation, which received support after voting in both houses of Parliament, was first approved by the Senate and subsequently endorsed by the National Assembly with a vote of 279 in favor and 81 against.
President Emmanuel Macron, who cited this reform as a major priority during his current presidential term, aims to protect children from the negative impacts of social media. French health experts have previously warned that platforms such as TikTok, Snapchat, and Instagram can adversely affect the mental health of adolescents, particularly girls.
The bill is now pending review by France’s Constitutional Council, with plans for implementation starting in September. The ban will be rolled out in stages: beginning on September 1, children under 15 will no longer be able to create new social media accounts, and by January 2027, this requirement will extend to existing accounts.
France’s Minister for Digital Technology, Anne Le Lay, stated that all users will need to verify their age. If an account owner is found to be under 15, the platform will be mandated to close that account. The responsibility for age verification will fall primarily on the social media companies.
The law does, however, include exceptions for online encyclopedias and educational platforms, and it does not impose any penalties on children or their parents.
In light of France’s initiative, the European Commission is also considering similar restrictions, following proposals from Greece and Spain. Australia was the first country worldwide to require major social media platforms to delete accounts of users under 16 or face substantial fines.
