‘No more social media before 15’: France passes landmark digital age law
French lawmakers have passed a landmark bill banning social media access for children under 15, making France the first European country to set a digital age limit.The Senate approved the bill on Tuesday, and the House is expected to approve it later in the day, after reaching a compromise on the text on Monday.
France “will become the first country in Europe to set a digital age limit to better protect our children online,” Digital Minister Anne Le Henanve said.
“President Emmanuel Macron has defended the law as a key reform in his last term and has pledged to implement it by September.
How will the ban work?
- The social media base will be rolled out in two phases:
- Starting September 1, people under the age of 15 will be prohibited from creating new accounts
- The ban will apply to existing accounts starting January 2027
- Exceptions are provided for sites such as online encyclopedias and educational platforms.
- Platforms will be required to use age verification tools approved by France’s privacy regulator.
Lawmakers agreed on the need for regulation after warnings multiplied about the harmful effects of social media on children. France’s public health watchdog said last year that platforms such as TikTok, Snapchat and Instagram were harming teenagers, especially girls.France joins more than 20 countries that have taken steps towards regulating children’s access to social media. In December last year, Australia became the first country in the world to require platforms to remove accounts held by people under the age of 16.The European Commission is working on its own regulations to rein in social media across Europe to protect young people. Last week, EU President Ursula von der Leyen said children should have “progressive and gradual access” to social media.
“We left you in this jungle and robbed you of your attention,” said Macron, who in April urged young people to turn off their phones and read. “We need to slow down and help you become adults, above all citizens. That’s why what we want to do is say that before the age of 15, no more social media.”
