France’s parliament has passed a landmark law banning children under the age of 15 from using social media, making it the first European country to introduce such a restriction. The new rules will take effect from January 2027.
The legislation requires everyone in France to verify their age before accessing social media platforms. It comes as governments across Europe and the UK consider tighter online safety measures amid growing concerns about the impact of social media on children’s mental health.
President Emmanuel Macron welcomed the decision, fulfilling a pledge he made before the end of his presidency. Although critics have questioned whether the law can be effectively enforced, the French government says existing age-verification technology is both reliable and secure.
The law, approved by both the Senate and the National Assembly despite opposition from some lawmakers, will be rolled out in two phases. From September 2026, anyone under 15 will be prevented from creating new social media accounts, with age verification required for all new users. From January 2027, the requirement will extend to existing accounts, meaning everyone in France must prove they are at least 15 years old to continue using social media.
Under the new rules, platforms must use age-verification systems approved by France’s privacy regulator. However, concerns remain over user privacy, the effectiveness of the technology, the possibility of children bypassing the checks, and the rapid pace at which the legislation has been introduced.
Digital Minister Anne Le Hénanff defended the accelerated rollout, arguing that the necessary age-verification tools are already available.
France becomes the second country to adopt such a ban after Australia. However, despite Australia’s under-16 social media ban taking effect in December, many young people are still believed to be accessing the platforms.
