PARIS — France is set to become the first country in the European Union to ban social media for children under 15, after lawmakers approved a sweeping new bill amid growing concern about the impact of digital platforms on young people.
Both houses of Parliament backed the measure, making it a flagship policy of President Emmanuel Macron’s second term. The legislation also includes a ban on mobile phone use in high schools.
“I committed to it, and now it’s been passed: social media will be banned for those under 15 starting this school year,” Macron said in a post on X. “Now it’s up to the Constitutional Council to rule, and then it’s time to take action to make this measure a reality and protect our children online.”
Macron hopes the ban will take effect at the start of the new school year in September. However, according to the Associated Press, a review to determine whether the bill complies with the French Constitution could delay implementation.
Under the plan, the rollout would happen in stages. Children under 15 would be blocked from creating new social media accounts starting September 1, with the ban extending to existing accounts from January 2027. Platforms would also be required to introduce age-verification systems approved by France’s privacy regulator.
The bill goes further by banning advertising that promotes social media to children, including influencer marketing, and requiring warning labels on ads stating: “Dangerous products for children under 15.”
Lawmakers from the left-wing party France Unbowed opposed the measure, arguing it may violate the constitution, undermine online anonymity, and prove difficult to enforce.
France’s move comes as governments around the world take a closer look at children’s use of social media. Australia became the first country to implement a nationwide ban for under-16s last year, while the U.K. has announced similar restrictions expected to take effect next year. Spain, Greece, and Denmark are also considering minimum age limits.
At the EU level, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has called for stronger protections, and a recent expert panel recommended banning access for children under 13 unless tech companies can demonstrate their platforms are safe.
Meanwhile, in the Untied States several states have attempted to pass laws requiring parental consent for minors to use social media and restricting access during certain hours, but they have faced legal challenges.
