France Approves Nationwide Social Media Ban for Children Under 15
France has become the first country in the European Union to approve a nationwide ban on social media access for children under the age of 15.
Both chambers of the French Parliament backed the legislation on Tuesday, 21 July 2026. It passed by 243 votes to two in the Senate before being approved by 279 votes to 81 in the National Assembly.
The measure is expected to begin on 1 September 2026, at the start of France’s new school year.
However, the legislation is not yet fully operational and may still be referred to France’s Constitutional Council for review before its official enactment.
What will the ban involve?
From 1 September, children younger than 15 would be prevented from creating new accounts on covered social media services.
Platforms would then have another four months to identify and close accounts already being used by under-15s. This means existing accounts would need to be addressed by the beginning of 2027.
Major platforms such as TikTok, Instagram, Facebook and Snapchat are expected to fall under the legislation.
The law does not provide a simple list of every affected service. Instead, it uses definitions found in European digital legislation, creating some uncertainty around services such as YouTube, WhatsApp, Reddit and online games with social features.
Certain services are exempt, including collaborative online encyclopaedias, educational or scientific directories, and platforms used to develop or share open-source software.
How will people prove their age?
Social media companies will be responsible for introducing age-verification systems.
These systems will need to meet regulatory and privacy requirements, although the precise technical methods have not yet been finalised. French officials have suggested that platforms may offer different ways for users to confirm their age.
The checks would not only affect children. Adult users may also need to prove that they are above the minimum age to continue accessing certain platforms.
Privacy and civil-liberty concerns have therefore formed an important part of the debate, alongside questions about whether children could bypass the system through false details, borrowed accounts or virtual private networks.
Why is France introducing the measure?
French President Emmanuel Macron has strongly supported restrictions on children’s access to social media.
The government says the measure is intended to protect young users from online risks including harmful material, excessive screen time, addictive platform features and algorithm-driven content.
Supporters see the ban as a clear age limit that gives parents and platforms greater responsibility.
Critics agree that children require stronger protection but question whether a general ban will be practical or effective without clearer enforcement systems and wider changes to the way social platforms operate.
Mobile phones also targeted in schools
The legislation also includes restrictions on mobile-phone use in French high schools.
Individual schools would be able to provide limited exceptions, but the wider aim is to reduce access to phones during the school day.
Other European countries watching closely
France follows Australia, where a nationwide social media restriction for children under 16 came into force in December 2025.
A number of European countries are also considering stronger age limits, while the European Commission is examining broader measures for protecting children online.
France’s plan will therefore be watched closely — not only to see whether it survives legal scrutiny, but also whether platforms can introduce age checks that are effective without collecting unnecessary personal information.
