France has become the first country in the European Union to approve a blanket ban on social media access for children under the age of 15, with Parliament passing landmark legislation aimed at protecting children from the harmful effects of excessive online exposure.
Backed by President Emmanuel Macron, the law will prohibit children under 15 from creating social media accounts and require platforms to verify users’ ages.
The French Senate approved the legislation this week before the National Assembly passed it by 279 votes to 81, making France one of the first countries globally to adopt such sweeping restrictions on children’s access to social media platforms.
“France is leading the way in Europe when it comes to protecting our children and teenagers," Macron said in a video posted on social media after the vote.
He wants the law implemented from September 1, in time for the beginning of France’s new academic year.
Under the legislation, children below the age of 15 will be prevented from opening new accounts on social media platforms from September, while existing accounts belonging to under-15 users will be shut down from January 2027. The legislation exempts educational websites, online encyclopaedias and scientific platforms. It also does not prescribe penalties for children or their parents.
The development comes as France’s public health watchdog warned last year that platforms such as TikTok, Snapchat and Instagram have harmful effects on adolescents, particularly girls. The report linked excessive social media use to reduced self-esteem and increased exposure to content promoting self-harm, suicide, drug use and other risky behaviors.
