France Approves Social Media Ban for Under-15s, Age Verification to Become Mandatory
Summarized by AI; it may make mistakes. Check important info
Summarized by AI; it may make mistakes. Check important info
France’s parliament has approved a law banning children under 15 from using social media from January 2027, making the country the first in Europe to introduce such a restriction.
The legislation, backed by both the French Senate and National Assembly on Tuesday, will require users to verify their age before accessing social media platforms.
Ban to Be Implemented in Two Stages
The new rules will be introduced in phases:
- From September 2026: People under 15 will be prohibited from opening new social media accounts, while age verification will be required for all new accounts.
- From January 2027: The requirement will extend to existing accounts, meaning all users in France will have to prove they are over 15 to access social media.
Platforms will be required to use age-verification systems approved by France’s privacy regulator.
French President Emmanuel Macron has welcomed the legislation, which he had earlier pledged to introduce as part of his efforts to address concerns over the impact of social media on children’s mental health.
Privacy, Enforcement Concerns Raised
The legislation has faced criticism over privacy concerns, the effectiveness of age-verification technology and the possibility that young users could find ways to bypass the restrictions.
Critics have also questioned the speed with which the law was drafted and implemented. French Digital Minister Anne Le Hénanff defended the timeline, saying age-verification tools already exist.
The law has also drawn criticism from sections of the political left.
Australia’s Experience Raises Questions
France’s move follows Australia, which introduced a ban on social media access for children under 16 in December.
However, Australia’s experience has raised questions about how effectively such restrictions can be enforced. In March, Australia’s eSafety Commission said that seven in 10 children under 16 who had social media accounts before the ban still retained “some access” to the platforms.
Europe Moves Towards Tighter Online Restrictions
Other European countries are also considering restrictions on children’s access to social media.
In the UK, former Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer announced plans in June to ban children under 16 from social media from January 2027. An optional midnight curfew for teenagers aged 16 and 17 was also proposed.
Meanwhile, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has proposed delaying children’s access to social media and indicated that new legislation could be introduced in the coming months.
While supporters argue that age restrictions could help protect children’s mental health, critics warn that strict bans could push young users towards less-regulated online spaces, create new privacy risks and reduce young people’s access to news and political discussions.
