By Blessing Nweke
France has approved a landmark law banning children under the age of 15 from accessing social media, becoming the first European country to introduce such a nationwide restriction. The measure, passed by both the French Senate and National Assembly on Tuesday, will take effect in January 2027.
Under the legislation, everyone in France will be required to verify their age before accessing social media platforms. The rollout will begin in September 2026, when children under 15 will no longer be allowed to create new social media accounts, while all new users will be required to complete age verification.
From January 2027, the rules will extend to existing accounts, meaning all users must prove they are at least 15 years old to continue using social media platforms.
President Emmanuel Macron welcomed the legislation, fulfilling a pledge he made before the end of his presidency. French Digital Minister Anne Le Hénanff defended the rapid implementation, arguing that reliable age-verification technology already exists and can be deployed safely.
However, the law has drawn criticism from privacy advocates and some lawmakers, who question the effectiveness of age-verification systems and warn that children may still find ways to bypass restrictions. Critics also fear the measures could expose users to privacy risks and push teenagers toward less-regulated online spaces.
France follows Australia, which introduced a similar ban on under-16s in December. Despite the restrictions, Australian authorities reported that many children continued accessing social media, highlighting the challenges of enforcement.
Across Europe, governments are increasingly considering similar measures amid growing concerns about the impact of social media on children’s mental health. The United Kingdom plans to introduce its own ban for under-16s in January 2027, while the European Union is also examining new legislation aimed at limiting children’s access to online platforms.
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