France bans social media for children under 15 in a landmark EU first

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Social psychologist Dr. Jonathan Haidt explains how Australia’s youth social media ban has boosted family time by 30% and improved sleep and focus. Haidt advocates for global adoption, stressing government support is crucial for parents struggling to manage their children’s online lives and promote overall youth wellbeing.

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France has become the first country in the European Union to ban children under 15 from using social media after lawmakers approved sweeping legislation requiring platforms to block young users through age-verification systems, citing growing concerns over children’s mental health and online safety.

“I had committed to it, and now it’s been voted on: social media will be banned for those under 15 starting back-to-school,” French President Emmanuel Macron said in a Tuesday X post.

“Thanks to the parliamentarians,” he added. “It’s up to the Constitutional Council to rule, then on to action to make this measure concrete and protect our children online.”

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French President Emmanuel Macron speaking and gesturing. (AP Photo/Michel Euler, Pool)

CNN reported Tuesday that France joins a growing list of countries moving to restrict children’s access to social media, with Australia becoming the first nation to ban social media for users under 16 last year, while the United Kingdom plans to introduce similar rules next year.

Spain, Greece and Denmark are also considering minimum age requirements. CNN also reported that the French measure passed with overwhelming support in Parliament and now heads to President Emmanuel Macron for his signature.

Australia requires platforms to take reasonable measures to keep children below the minimum age from creating or maintaining accounts, while French officials have pledged to introduce age-verification systems to enforce the legislation, according to the report.

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Teenager uses a smartphone while in bed. (Javier Zayaz/iStock)

BBC reported that under the rollout plan, the law will first bar children under 15 from creating new social media accounts beginning in September, with age verification required for all new users.

Starting in January 2027, the requirement will expand to existing accounts, meaning all users in France will need to verify they are at least 15. According to the BBC, platforms will be required to use age-verification technology approved by France’s privacy regulator.

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