France Approves Social Media Ban for Children Under 15, Becomes First European Country to Take Action

PARIS, July 21: France’s parliament has approved a bill banning children under the age of 15 from accessing social media platforms, making it the first European country to introduce such a nationwide restriction.

The legislation, backed by President Emmanuel Macron, aims to protect children and teenagers from the potential harmful effects of social media platforms including TikTok, Snapchat and Instagram. Macron said the measure was a major step toward protecting young people online.

The bill was approved by the National Assembly with 279 votes in favour and 81 against after receiving approval from the Senate earlier on Tuesday.

Under the new rules, children under 15 will be prevented from creating new social media accounts from September 1, while restrictions on existing accounts are expected to take effect from January 2027.

Digital Minister Anne Le Hénanff said the implementation timeline was realistic, citing existing and developing age-verification technologies. She said social media platforms would be responsible for enforcing the restrictions and ensuring that underage accounts are removed.

Authorities also assured that users’ personal data would be protected during the age-verification process.

France’s public health authorities have previously warned about the impact of social media on adolescents, particularly its effects on mental health, while noting that online platforms are not the only factor affecting young people's wellbeing.

The move comes as several countries consider tighter controls on children’s access to social media. Australia became the first country to introduce a law requiring major platforms to block accounts belonging to users under 16.

The European Commission is also examining possible measures to regulate social media access for children, with France among the countries pushing for stronger protections.