France bans social media for children under 15

France’s parliament has approved a law banning children under 15 from using social media platforms.

According to France 24, both chambers of parliament backed the measure, making France the first European Union country to introduce a full ban for this age group. The initiative was one of the key priorities of President Emmanuel Macron’s second term, with Macron calling it a “major step forward” in protecting children and teenagers.

The law also expands restrictions on mobile phone use in French high schools. Phones have already been banned in primary and middle schools since 2018, and the new rules extend the restriction to older students. Authorities also plan to address excessive screen time among teenagers, citing concerns about its impact on sleep, mental health, and cyberbullying risks.

The ban will not take effect immediately. Platforms will first need to introduce age verification systems to determine which users are under 15.

According to lawmaker Laure Miller, social media companies will be able to choose their own verification methods. One possible option is the age verification app introduced by the European Commission in April. France previously passed a law in 2023 requiring parental consent for users under 15, but the measure was rarely enforced due to technical challenges.

The new legislation has received support from parents and child protection groups, who argue that stronger measures are needed to address the influence of major technology platforms. Several French families are already suing TikTok, claiming that harmful content contributed to teenage suicides.

Critics, including lawmakers from the left-wing party La France Insoumise, argue that the law raises constitutional concerns, could undermine online anonymity, and may be difficult to enforce in practice.

France joins more than 20 countries that have introduced restrictions on children’s access to social media. Australia became the first country to adopt a nationwide ban in December, requiring platforms including TikTok, YouTube, and Snapchat to remove accounts belonging to users under 16 or face significant fines.

The European Union has also considered introducing common age rules for social media. Under potential EU-wide measures, children under 13 could only access such platforms with supervision from parents, teachers, or other adults and for limited periods of time.