France Passes Landmark Ban on Social Media for Children Under 15
By: WNEWS247 Editorial Staff
Published: July 23, 2026
PARIS — France has passed a law banning children under 15 from creating social media accounts, becoming the first country in the European Union to adopt a nationwide minimum-age requirement for social networking platforms.
The National Assembly approved the bill by 279 votes to 81 on July 22 after it cleared the Senate earlier the same day. The measure, one of President Emmanuel Macron’s flagship digital safety initiatives, also bans mobile phone use in high schools.
Macron welcomed the vote, calling it “a major step forward” and saying France was “leading the way in Europe” in protecting children and teenagers online. The law must still be reviewed by France’s Constitutional Council before it can take effect.
France’s new law will require platforms to verify users’ ages, blocking new accounts for under-15s starting September 1, 2026.
How the ban will work
Under the new law, children under 15 will no longer be allowed to create social media accounts beginning Sept. 1. Existing accounts held by under-15 users must be closed within four months, with enforcement expected by January 2027.
Digital Minister Anne Le Hénanff said social media companies will be responsible for enforcing the rules. Platforms must use age-verification systems approved by France’s privacy regulator and close accounts found to belong to users under the minimum age while protecting their personal data.
The restrictions will not apply to online encyclopedias, educational websites or scientific directories.
Lawmakers amended the bill after the European Commission raised concerns that an earlier version could conflict with the European Union’s Digital Services Act, which sets rules for online platforms across the bloc.
Why lawmakers backed the measure
French lawmakers said the legislation is intended to strengthen online protections for children amid growing concerns about excessive social media use and exposure to harmful content.
Several French families have filed lawsuits against TikTok, alleging the platform exposed teenagers to harmful content linked to mental health problems. Meanwhile, government-backed studies have found that most French teenagers use smartphones every day, with social media among their most common online activities.
Some opposition lawmakers questioned whether the law would withstand constitutional scrutiny and argued that enforcing the restrictions could prove challenging. However, the measure received broad backing from children’s advocacy groups and many parents.
Part of a growing global trend
France joins a growing number of countries tightening rules on children’s access to social media.
Australia became the first country to approve a nationwide under-16 social media ban in 2024, while the United Kingdom has announced similar restrictions expected to take effect next year. Spain, Greece and Denmark are also considering minimum-age requirements for social media platforms.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has also called for stronger protections for children online. Earlier this year, an EU advisory panel recommended restricting social media access for children under 13 until platforms can demonstrate their services are safe for young users.
As countries continue to debate how best to protect children online, France’s new law is expected to serve as one of Europe’s most closely watched tests of mandatory age verification and social media regulation.
