France has approved a landmark law banning children under the age of 15 from accessing social media, becoming the first European country to introduce such a measure. The law is scheduled to take full effect in January 2027.
Under the legislation, age verification will become mandatory for all social media users. From September 2026, children under 15 will be barred from creating new social media accounts, while from January 2027, all existing users in France will be required to verify that they are at least 15 years old.
French President Emmanuel Macron welcomed the legislation, describing it as part of efforts to better protect children online amid growing concerns over the impact of social media on young people’s mental health.
The French government says approved age-verification technology will be used to enforce the law, although critics have raised concerns over privacy, enforcement challenges and the possibility of children bypassing the restrictions.
France becomes the second country after Australia to adopt a nationwide social media age ban, while similar restrictions are also being considered in the United Kingdom and across the European Union.
