France is moving to keep children under 15 off social media, and President Emmanuel Macron celebrated the decision on social media itself. Parliament approved the measure on Tuesday, putting France ahead of other European Union countries considering similar restrictions.
Macron called the vote a “major step forward” and said, “France is leading the way in Europe when it comes to protecting our children and teenagers.”
TL;DR
- Under-15s will be blocked from opening new accounts from September.
- From January 2027, existing accounts will also require age verification.
- Supporters cite child safety, while critics question privacy and enforcement.
France’s Social Media Ban For Under-15s Will Roll Out In Two Stages
The Senate and National Assembly approved the measure, with the lower house passing it by 279 votes to 81. The Constitutional Council must still review the legislation.
From September 1, children under 15 will be prevented from creating new accounts. In January 2027, the rule will expand to existing accounts, meaning users across France will need to prove they are at least 15.
The law places responsibility on platforms rather than children or parents. Online encyclopedias and educational platforms are exempt.
Age Verification Will Decide Whether France’s Social Media Ban Works
Platforms will need to use age-checking tools approved by France’s privacy regulator. Digital Minister Anne Le Hénanff defended the timeline, saying it was realistic “because age-verification tools already exist.”
“For four months, all of us in France will have to prove our age,” she said. “If someone is under 15, the account will be closed.”
The challenge is whether those tools can verify age without creating new privacy risks. Critics have also warned about rushed implementation and teenagers bypassing the restrictions.
Topics For More Insights
- Why Social Media Bans Are Rising Worldwide: Regulation, Security, And The Data Privacy Debate
- Australia Doubles Social Media Ban Fines As Teens Keep Finding Workarounds
- UK Government To Trial Social Media Bans, Curfews, And App Limits In 300 Teenage Homes
- One-Fifth Of Australian Teens Still Use TikTok And Snapchat Despite Social Media Ban
Child Safety Concerns Are Driving France’s Social Media Restrictions
France’s public health watchdog has warned that TikTok, Snapchat, and Instagram can harm adolescents, particularly girls, although social media is not the only factor affecting teen mental health.
One in two teenagers spends between two and five hours a day on a smartphone. About 90% of children aged 12 to 17 use smartphones to access the internet each day, while 58% use them for social networks.
The report linked social media use with lower self-esteem and greater exposure to content involving self-harm, drug use, and suicide.
France follows Australia, which introduced a social media ban for under-16s in December. Australia’s eSafety Commission later found that seven in 10 children who previously had accounts still retained some access.
That experience suggests France’s law may succeed politically before it succeeds technically. With the UK and EU developing restrictions, France’s rollout could become Europe’s key test of whether age limits can meaningfully change how children use social media.
