- French Parliament has approved a landmark law restricting children under 15 from creating social media accounts.
- From January 2027, all users must prove they are at least 15 years old.
- France joins Australia and the UK in introducing laws limiting children’s access to social media.
France has approved a landmark law that will prevent children under the age of 15 from using social media platforms, making it one of the first countries in Europe to introduce such restrictions.
The legislation, passed by the French Parliament, will be implemented in stages beginning later this year. From September 2026, children under 15 will no longer be allowed to create new social media accounts. Anyone opening a new account will be required to verify their age before gaining access.
From January 2027, the age-verification requirement will be extended to all social media users, including those with existing accounts. As a result, everyone in France will need to prove they are at least 15 years old to use social media platforms.
French President Emmanuel Macron welcomed the legislation, describing it as an important step in protecting young people online.
“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, calling the law “a major step forward.”
France’s Digital Minister, Anne Le Hénanff, defended the rapid implementation of the new rules, saying that reliable age-verification technology is already available and can be introduced without delay.
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The government says the new law is designed to improve children’s safety online and reduce their exposure to harmful content. The move follows concerns raised by France’s public health watchdog, which reported last year that platforms such as TikTok, Snapchat, and Instagram can negatively affect adolescents’ mental health, particularly among girls.
However, the legislation has also sparked debate. Critics have questioned whether the age-verification systems will adequately protect users’ privacy, how effective they will be in preventing underage access, and whether the law has been introduced too quickly.
Around 20 countries worldwide have proposed or introduced policies aimed at limiting children’s access to social media.
The United Kingdom has also announced plans to introduce similar restrictions. Former Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said that children under 16 in the UK would be banned from using major social media platforms from January 2027, although messaging services such as WhatsApp are not expected to be affected.
Globally, Australia was the first country to introduce a social media ban for children under 16, passing its legislation in 2024.
By Obegi Malack
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