Lead

France's parliament has approved a law banning social media access for children under 15, making it the first European country to introduce such a measure. The law, championed by President Emmanuel Macron, will be phased in starting September, with full enforcement expected by January 2027.

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The ban was approved by both chambers of parliament on Tuesday, with the National Assembly voting 279 to 81 in favor, after the Senate had given its approval earlier the same day. The law still requires approval from France's Constitutional Council before it can take effect.

The legislation comes in response to growing concerns about the impact of social media on children's health and safety. France's public health watchdog last year identified platforms such as TikTok, Snapchat, and Instagram as harmful to adolescents, particularly girls, though it noted this was not the sole reason for declining mental health among young people.

President Macron has been a vocal advocate of the ban, which he has described as "a major step forward" and a flagship reform of his final term in office. In a video posted on social media, he said: "France is leading the way in Europe when it comes to protecting our children and teenagers." He added that the Constitutional Council must rule on the bill, and then "it will be time to take action to make this measure a reality and protect our children online."

Digital Minister Anne Le Hénanff, who is also junior minister for AI, said France is "the first country in Europe to adopt a digital majority." She defended the timeline for implementation, saying age-verification tools already exist and that the onus would be on platforms to impose the rule.

France follows Australia, which introduced the world's first ban on social media for under-16s in December. However, reports suggest that in Australia many children have continued to access platforms despite the ban.

Key claims

  • The ban prohibits children under 15 from opening social media accounts from September 1, 2026.
  • From January 2027, the ban will apply to existing accounts, meaning everyone in France will need to verify their age to use social media.
  • Social media platforms will be required to use age-verification tools approved by the French privacy regulator.
  • The law also bans smartphone use in high schools, a measure that will take effect at the beginning of the French school year in September.
  • Exceptions to the ban are provided for sites such as online encyclopedias and educational platforms.
  • The European Commission is working on its own regulations to address social media use across Europe and will assess whether France's bill respects existing European legislation.

Perspectives

Government perspective

President Macron and Digital Minister Anne Le Hénanff have championed the ban as a necessary measure to protect children from the harmful effects of social media. They argue that age-verification tools are effective and that the timeline for implementation is realistic.

Critics' perspective

Critics, including some on the left, have raised concerns about the age-verification process, the speed of implementation, and the risk of young people bypassing the restrictions. Privacy advocates have also expressed worries about the collection of personal data.

Platforms' perspective

Social media platforms generally oppose blanket bans and stress that they already have measures in place to protect younger users, including age restrictions. However, they have pledged to comply with the law once it comes into force.

International perspective

The European Commission is developing its own regulations to protect young people online and will review France's legislation for compliance with European rules. The UK is also moving ahead with plans to introduce social media restrictions, according to reports.