France has made history as the first European country to introduce a blanket ban on social media access for under-15s, marking a significant shift in the continent's approach to protecting children from the perceived ills of the digital age. The landmark legislation, which sailed through the National Assembly with 279 votes to 81 after earlier Senate approval, will shield young people from the detrimental impacts of platforms such as TikTok, Snapchat, and Instagram.
President Emmanuel Macron has championed this pioneering reform throughout his tenure, positioning it as a core component of his policy agenda. He hailed the parliamentary decision as a "major step forward" for child protection in France, expressing gratitude to lawmakers for their support. The bill now faces its final hurdle, with the Constitutional Council set to review its provisions before implementation begins.
The new law will roll out in two stages: from 1 September 2026, children under 15 will be prohibited from creating new social media accounts; existing accounts belonging to this age group will then be closed from January 2027. Digital Minister Anne Le Hénanff has assured that age-verification tools are either already in place or under development, placing the onus for enforcement squarely on the shoulders of social media companies.
While French lawmakers have broadly agreed on the need for regulation, the two chambers initially diverged on approach. Senators proposed a tiered system distinguishing between harmful platforms and those accessible with parental consent. However, the National Assembly's more comprehensive blanket ban ultimately prevailed, despite some criticisms regarding speed of implementation, potential for circumvention, and concerns surrounding age verification.
This move comes amidst an international trend of countries taking steps to restrict social media access for minors, driven by growing warnings about its negative impact on children's mental health. France's public health watchdog has highlighted the particular vulnerability of adolescents, especially girls, to certain platforms' detrimental effects. The ban will not apply to educational platforms or online encyclopaedias, and no penalties have been stipulated for children or parents.
France's pioneering stance is expected to be closely watched by other European states, with the European Commission actively considering similar limitations on social media access. President Ursula von der Leyen has suggested a "phased and gradual access" approach for children, while the Commission's age verification app is currently being tested in several EU member states.