PARIS: France has become the first European Union country to ban social media access for children under the age of 15 after parliament overwhelmingly approved landmark legislation aimed at protecting minors from the harmful effects of online platforms.
According to Reuters, both chambers of the French parliament—the Senate and the National Assembly—passed the bill by large majorities. The Senate approved the measure by 243 votes to 2, while the National Assembly backed it by 279 votes to 81.
The law will take effect on September 1, 2026, requiring social media companies to deactivate existing accounts belonging to users under the age of 15 within four months. Platforms will also be required to introduce robust age-verification systems to prevent underage users from creating new accounts.
The legislation is designed to shield children from online harassment, mental health risks, and other harmful effects associated with excessive social media use.
French President Emmanuel Macron, a longtime advocate of stronger protections for children online, has repeatedly called for measures to reduce screen time among young people and curb their exposure to digital platforms.
In addition to the social media restrictions, the law strengthens existing limits on mobile phone use in high schools and makes age verification mandatory for access to social media services under the oversight of France’s privacy regulator.
While major social media companies have generally opposed mandatory age restrictions, they have indicated they will comply with the new legal requirements.
The European Commission is also reviewing the legislation to determine whether it is fully compatible with the European Union’s Digital Services Act and other bloc-wide digital regulations.
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France’s move places it at the forefront of growing international efforts to regulate children’s access to social media, as governments worldwide grapple with concerns over online safety, cyberbullying, and the impact of digital platforms on young people’s mental health.
