France’s parliament has approved legislation banning children under the age of 15 from accessing social media platforms, making it the first European Union country to introduce such a measure. President Emmanuel Macron has pledged to implement the ban by September, pending constitutional approval.
The bill, passed by the National Assembly in a 279-81 vote after receiving Senate approval, will now be reviewed by the Constitutional Council before it can become law.
Under the legislation, children under 15 will be barred from creating new accounts on social media platforms, including TikTok, from September 1. Existing accounts held by underage users are expected to be closed from January 2027. Educational websites and online encyclopedias are exempt from the restrictions.
Macron welcomed the vote, describing it as “a major step forward” in protecting children online. “France is leading the way in Europe when it comes to protecting our children and teenagers,” he said, adding that the government would move quickly to implement the measure once it receives constitutional approval.
Digital Minister Anne Le Hénanff said age-verification technology is already available, placing responsibility on social media companies to enforce the new rules. She also assured the public that users’ personal data would be protected during the verification process.
The legislation follows growing concerns about the impact of social media on young people’s mental health. France’s public health authority previously warned that platforms such as TikTok, Snapchat and Instagram could negatively affect adolescents, particularly girls.
Lawmakers debated different approaches before agreeing on a blanket ban. An earlier Senate proposal would have allowed access to some platforms with parental consent, but the National Assembly’s stricter version prevailed despite concerns over privacy, implementation and possible circumvention.
The move aligns with broader efforts across Europe to strengthen online child safety. The European Commission is exploring similar measures and has begun testing an age-verification app, while Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has advocated gradual and age-appropriate access to social media.
France joins a growing number of countries introducing age restrictions for social media users. Australia last year became the first country to require major platforms to remove accounts belonging to users under 16 or face significant financial penalties.
