New Accounts Blocked From September
France has approved a law banning children under 15 from accessing major social media platforms.
The measure covers popular applications such as TikTok, Instagram and Snapchat.
France has become the first European country to introduce a nationwide social media age limit for children.
President Emmanuel Macron strongly supported the legislation.
He described it as a major step toward protecting children and teenagers online.
The French Senate approved the bill by 243 votes to two.
The National Assembly later passed it by 279 votes to 81.
The law must now be reviewed by France’s Constitutional Council before implementation.
Children under 15 will be prevented from creating new social media accounts from September 1, 2026.
Existing accounts belonging to underage users will be affected from January 2027.
Social media companies will be responsible for enforcing the restrictions.
Accounts linked to users below the required age could be closed.
Children and parents will not face financial penalties under the legislation.
Age Verification Raises Privacy Concerns
All users in France may be required to confirm their age during the implementation period.
Digital Minister Anne Le Hénanff said existing age-verification technology could support the rollout.
Additional verification systems are also being developed.
The minister said personal information would remain protected during age checks.
However, critics have raised concerns about privacy and data security.
Some lawmakers also questioned whether the system could be introduced quickly enough.
Others warned that children may attempt to bypass restrictions through false information or technical tools.
The legislation provides exceptions for educational websites and online encyclopedias.
These services will remain accessible to younger users.
The new law also includes restrictions on mobile phone use in French high schools.
The government wants the school restrictions to begin with the new academic year.
France Leads Wider European Digital Safety Push
French health authorities have warned that excessive social media use can harm adolescent wellbeing.
Concerns are particularly serious for teenage girls.
Researchers and health officials have linked heavy social media use with anxiety, body-image pressure and declining mental health.
However, experts have also stressed that social media is not the only cause of worsening youth wellbeing.
Supporters believe the ban will reduce children’s exposure to harmful content and addictive platform features.
Opponents argue that education, parental controls and stronger platform regulation may be more effective.
The European Union is also examining stronger protections for young social media users.
France, Greece and Spain have supported tougher age restrictions.
The European Commission has developed an age-verification application that several member states are testing.
France’s implementation will be closely monitored by other European governments considering similar restrictions.
Australia introduced the world’s first major nationwide restriction in December 2025.
Its law requires leading platforms to remove accounts belonging to users under 16 or face significant fines.
France’s decision could now encourage more European countries to introduce similar measures.
