French lawmakers have passed a landmark bill banning social media access for children under 15, making France the first European country to set a digital age limit.The bill was approved by the Senate on Tuesday and is expected to pass the lower house later in the day, following a compromise on the text reached on Monday. Digital Minister Anne Le Henanff said France would “become the first country in Europe to introduce a digital age limit to better protect our children online.“President Emmanuel Macron has championed the law as a flagship reform of his final term and pledged to enforce it by September.
How the ban will work
- The social media rule will be rolled out in two stages:
- From September 1, under-15s will be blocked from creating new accounts
- The ban will apply to existing accounts from January 2027
- Exceptions are provided for sites such as online encyclopedias and educational platforms.
- Platforms will be required to use age verification tools approved by France’s privacy regulator.
Lawmakers agreed on the need for regulation after warnings multiplied over the harmful effects of social media on children. France’s public health watchdog last year said platforms such as TikTok, Snapchat and Instagram were detrimental to adolescents, particularly girls.France joins more than 20 countries that have taken steps toward regulating children’s social media access. In December last year, Australia became the first country in the world to require platforms to remove accounts held by under-16s.The European Commission is working on its own regulations to rein in social media across Europe to protect young people. Last week, EU chief Ursula von der Leyen said children should have “phased and gradual access” to social media.Macron, who in April urged young people to switch off their phones and read, said: “We left you in this jungle and it robbed you of your attention. We need to slow down and help you become adults, and above all citizens. That’s why what we want to do is say that before 15 years old, no more social media.”
