France Enforces Social Media Ban for Under-15s, First in EU

France has become the first European Union nation to pass a law banning social media access for children under the age of 15. The legislation, approved by both houses of parliament, will be implemented in two phases starting September 2026.

The ban was a key priority for President Emmanuel Macron since his second term. 'The brains of our children and our teenagers are not for sale,' he said in a video message earlier this year. The National Assembly voted 279 in favour, 81 against, with 66 abstentions. President Macron announced the law's passage on social media, stating it would take effect from the start of the school year.

The law will be enforced by Arcom, France's digital and audiovisual communications regulator. In the first phase, from September 2026, anyone under 15 attempting to open a social media account will be blocked through age verification checks. In the second phase, platforms must close existing under-15 accounts by January 2027. The exact method of age verification is yet to be finalised, but authorities have promised a reliable system before enforcement.

Children under 15 will still be able to access online encyclopedias, educational tools, and scientific directories, as the ban excludes non-commercial digital resources. Advertising that promotes social media to minors, including influencer campaigns, will be prohibited. Advertisements for social media platforms must carry a disclaimer stating: 'Dangerous products for children under 15.'

The ban also extends to mobile phones in high schools, with specific rules to be determined by each school's internal regulations.

The legislation responds to growing concerns about young users' exposure to pornography, cyberbullying, and online exploitation. Arcom reports that recommendation algorithms often push teenagers towards extreme or disturbing content, and that children aged 12 to 17 spend an average of one hour and 21 minutes daily on TikTok alone. Several French families have filed lawsuits against TikTok, alleging its algorithm exposed their children to harmful content that contributed to suicides. TikTok has denied the claims.

'We left you in this jungle and it robbed you of your attention,' President Macron told teenagers at an event in April. 'We need to slow down and help you become adults, and above all citizens.'

France follows Australia, which implemented a similar ban in December 2025 through the Online Safety Amendment (Social Media Minimum Age) Act. That law requires platforms like TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, X, and Snapchat to verify ages and prevent children under 16 from creating accounts. Other countries including Austria, Spain, Brazil, and the United Kingdom are considering similar restrictions.

The French legislation comes ahead of expected EU-wide measures, following recommendations from an expert committee set up by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. 'Social media is not a toy,' she said, drawing a parallel to product safety rules: 'In Europe, whoever develops a product is responsible for its safety. Car manufacturers must make their vehicles safe. We do not expect children to design their own seatbelts.'