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France has become the first country in Europe to approve legislation prohibiting children under the age of 15 from using social media, with the new restrictions scheduled to take full effect by January 2027.
The legislation, endorsed by both the National Assembly and the Senate on Tuesday, introduces mandatory age verification for anyone seeking access to social networking platforms.
President Emmanuel Macron, who had long advocated the measure, welcomed Parliament’s approval, describing it as a key step toward strengthening online protection for children.
Implementation of the law will occur in two phases:
Beginning in September 2026, children younger than 15 will be prevented from creating new social media accounts, while all new users will be required to confirm their age before registering.
From January 2027, the verification requirement will extend to every existing account, meaning all users in France must prove they are at least 15 years old to continue accessing social media services.
Under the new rules, technology companies will be required to deploy age-checking systems certified by France’s data protection authority before allowing access to their platforms.
Although the legislation has received broad political backing, it has also attracted criticism from privacy advocates and some opposition lawmakers, particularly from left-wing parties.
Critics argue that age-verification technology could compromise personal data, be circumvented by determined users, and has been introduced without sufficient public consultation.
Responding to those concerns, Digital Affairs Minister Anne Le Hénanff maintained that the rapid rollout was justified because reliable age-verification technology is already available.
France’s decision follows Australia’s earlier move to prohibit social media use by children under 16.
However, Australian authorities have acknowledged that enforcement remains challenging.
Earlier this year, the country’s eSafety Commission reported that a significant majority of children who had social media accounts before the restrictions still retained some level of access.
Internet studies expert Professor Tama Leaver of Curtin University said Australia’s experience suggests such bans have struggled to achieve their technical objectives.
Nevertheless, he noted that the policy has demonstrated that governments can impose age-based restrictions on social media, describing it as an ongoing experiment.
Leaver suggested France’s universal age-verification requirement could make enforcement more effective than Australia’s approach, although he warned it may raise greater concerns about digital privacy.
He also cautioned that restricting young people from mainstream platforms could encourage migration to less-regulated online spaces while reducing their exposure to news and civic participation.
France’s action comes amid growing efforts across Europe to tighten regulations on children’s online activity.
In the United Kingdom, former Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer announced plans for a nationwide ban preventing under-16s from using social media from January 2027, alongside an optional midnight access restriction for users aged 16 and 17.
At the European Union level, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has also proposed delaying children’s access to social media, indicating that fresh legislation could be introduced in the near future.
By: Magdalene Agyeiwaa Sarpong