France has become the first European country to outlaw social media for children below 15 years, a new law that will take effect in January 2027. The move follows similar proposals in the UK and the broader European Union, where lawmakers are increasingly concerned about children’s mental health and online safety.
The legislation stipulates two key implementation stages: from September 2026, under‑15s will no longer be able to create new accounts, and age verification will become mandatory for every new user. In January 2027, all existing accounts will also need to prove the user’s age before the platforms can continue to operate in France.
French President Emmanuel Macron welcomed the law as “a milestone” that will mark the end of his decade in office, while the digital minister Anne Le Hénanff defended the rapid rollout, arguing that reliable age‑verification tools already exist.
Despite these assurances, privacy advocates and critics have raised alarms about the potential to erode user data protection, the possibility of children bypassing the checks, and the risk of diverting them to less‑regulated or darker corners of the web. The legislation also raises questions about limiting children’s news consumption and political engagement.
The ban comes after Australia’s 2023 under‑16 restriction that proved hard to enforce, with studies showing many children still accessed platforms. Experts suggest France’s approach may stand a better chance, given its requirement that everyone verify age, but it will still need to address the privacy and enforcement challenges identified elsewhere.
Meanwhile, the United Kingdom announced a similar ban for under‑16s, while the European Commission debates a “social media delay” for children. France’s decision positions it at the forefront of a growing wave of child‑protection measures across the continent.
