French parliament backs social media ban for children under 15

French lawmakers approved on Tuesday a ban on social media access for children under the age of 15, as concerns grow around the world over the impact social media ‌have on the health and safety of minors.
France becomes the first in Europe to follow Australia, where the world’s first ban for under-16s on platforms including Facebook, Snapchat, TikTok and YouTube came into force in December.

“France opens the way by being the first country in Europe to adopt a digital majority,” Anne Le Hénanff, junior ⁠minister for AI, told senators.

Both houses of parliament – the Senate and National Assembly – adopted the ban on Tuesday.
President Emmanuel Macron, who in April urged young people to switch off their phones and read in order to become better citizens, wants the law in place in time for the start of the next academic year.

Teenagers look at their mobile phone screens during an interview with Reuters about the bill aimed at banning the use of social networks for those under 15 and mobile phones in high schools from the start of the 2026 school year, in Paris, France, February 20, 2026. REUTERS/Manuel Ausloos/File Photo Purchase Licensing Rights

With the new legislation, children younger than 15 would not be allowed to open a social media account from September 1. Social media platforms would have another four months to close accounts already open. ‌The platforms ⁠would also need to use age verification approved by the French privacy regulator.

Source : https://www.reuters.com/legal/litigation/french-lawmakers-vote-social-media-ban-children-2026-07-21/