France Enacts Social Media Ban for Under-15s, Age Verification Mandated from 2027
France's parliament has approved a law that will ban social media for individuals under the age of 15, effective from January 2027. This makes France the first European country to introduce such a restriction, following Australia's similar ban on under-16s enacted in December.
The law mandates that all users must verify their age to access social media platforms. The implementation occurs in two phases: from September, new accounts for those under 15 will be prohibited and age verification required for all new accounts; by January 2027, this rule extends to all existing accounts, meaning every French user will need to prove they are over 15.
President Emmanuel Macron, who had pledged this measure as part of his tenure, welcomed the move. However, sceptics have questioned the law's viability, citing concerns over privacy, the effectiveness of age-verification tools, and the risk of young people bypassing them. The French Digital Minister, Anne Le Hénanff, defended the speed of implementation, stating that age-verification tools already exist.
The law was adopted by both the French Senate and National Assembly despite criticism from some left-leaning lawmakers. Social media platforms will be required to use age-verification tools approved by the French privacy regulator.
Australia's experience offers lessons. Despite its ban, many under-16s still access platforms. In March, Australia's eSafety Commission found that 70% of children under 16 who had accounts before the ban still had some access. Professor Tama Leaver of Curtin University told the BBC that the ban has 'failed' in technical aims but demonstrated that a ban 'can be done', calling it 'a bit of an experiment'. He stressed that young people should be part of the conversation, and that France's additional requirement for all users to verify age may increase effectiveness but also heighten privacy risks.
Other potential downsides include pushing young people into less-regulated online spaces, reducing their news consumption, and limiting political empowerment. The legislation reflects a broader trend in Europe, with the UK planning a similar ban for under-16s from 2027, and the EU considering a 'social media delay' for children.
