France has approved a landmark law banning children under the age of 15 from accessing social media, making it the first European country to introduce such a nationwide restriction.

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‎The legislation, passed by both houses of parliament, will require mandatory age verification for all social media users and will be fully enforced by January 2027.

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‎The rollout will happen in two phases. From September 2026, anyone under 15 will be barred from creating new social media accounts, while new users of all ages must verify their age.

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‎ Beginning in January 2027, the age-verification requirement will extend to all existing accounts, meaning every social media user in France must prove they are at least 15 years old.

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‎President Emmanuel Macron welcomed the law, describing it as a key measure to protect children’s mental health. The French government says approved age-verification technologies are already available and can be implemented securely.

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‎However, critics have questioned the effectiveness of the ban, citing privacy concerns, the possibility of children bypassing age checks, and the rapid pace of the legislation. Experts also warn that restrictions could push young users toward less-regulated online platforms while limiting their access to news and civic engagement.

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‎France follows Australia in introducing a national social media age ban, although Australian data suggests many underage users continue accessing social platforms despite similar restrictions.

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‎The move comes amid growing efforts across Europe to tighten children’s online safety. The UK plans to introduce a social media ban for under-16s from January 2027, while the European Union is also considering new legislation aimed at limiting children’s access to social media.

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