France’s parliament has approved a law that will ban social media use by anyone under 15, with the rules taking effect in two stages starting this September and fully by January 2027. The measure, backed by President Emmanuel Macron, requires every user in France to verify their age before accessing platforms, as France becomes the first European country to impose such a restriction.
From September, individuals under 15 will be unable to open new social media accounts and any new account creation will require age verification. In January 2027, the restriction will extend to all existing accounts, meaning every user in France will have to prove they are over 15 to continue using social media. Platforms would have to employ age-verification tools approved by the national privacy regulator once the ban is in force, according to Reuters.
Supporters argue the law provides a clear framework to protect children’s mental health online, while critics question the practicality and privacy implications of the verification technologies and the speed of the policy’s rollout. Digital Minister Anne Le Henanff defended the timetable, saying age-verification tools already exist and can be implemented quickly.
The legislation follows broader discussions in Europe about safeguarding children online. In May, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen proposed a “social media delay” for children and signaled that new rules could follow in the coming months. The United Kingdom has also signaled possible restrictions for under-16s, with a separate policy path discussed for 2027.
France’s move comes after Australia introduced its own under-16 ban in December, an experiment that has shown mixed results: a March report from Australia’s eSafety Commission noted that about seven in ten children who had a pre-ban account still had some access after the rule took effect. Analysts say the French approach could expand the use of verified age checks and push some young users toward less-regulated online spaces, raising questions about privacy and political empowerment online.
Macron’s government argues the law is a necessary step to address concerns about children’s online health, while opponents note that enforcement and privacy safeguards will be crucial to the policy’s effectiveness. As the two-stage rollout proceeds, Europe watches how similar restrictions might be adopted elsewhere and how online platforms adapt to stricter age-verification regimes.
