France has approved a ban on social media for individuals under the age of 15, set to take effect in January 2027
France has approved a gradual ban on social media for individuals under the age of 15, mandating nationwide age verification for all accounts by January 2027.
France’s parliament has passed a law prohibiting children under 15 from using social media starting in January 2027, positioning the country as the first in Europe to implement this type of nationwide limitation. The law mandates age verification for all social media users to tackle concerns regarding children’s mental health in the online environment.
Both the French Senate and the National Assembly adopted the legislation on Tuesday, despite opposition from certain lawmakers on the left. Implementation will occur in two phases: starting in September, new users under the age of 15 will be prohibited from creating social media accounts, while mandatory age verification will be applied to all existing accounts beginning in January 2027. According to the law, all individuals in France must demonstrate that they are at least 15 years of age to gain access to social media platforms.
French President Emmanuel Macron expressed his approval of the legislation, which he had committed to introducing before the conclusion of his presidency.
Once the ban takes effect, social media companies will be mandated to implement age-verification systems that have received approval from France’s privacy regulator.
The legislation has drawn criticism regarding privacy issues, the dependability of age-verification technology, the potential for children to circumvent restrictions, and the speed at which the law was formulated.
French Digital Minister Anne Le Hénanff defended the implementation timetable ahead of the parliamentary vote, asserting that it was feasible “because age-verification tools already exist.”
France has become the second country, following Australia, to implement such restrictions. In December, Australia implemented a ban on social media access for children under 16, yet numerous young users have persisted in using the platforms.
In March, Australia’s eSafety Commission reported that 70% of children under 16 who had social media accounts prior to the ban continued to have “some access.”
Commenting on Australia’s experience, Tama Leaver, a professor of Internet studies at Curtin University in Western Australia, stated to the BBC that the ban has “failed” in its technical aims but has shown that such restrictions “can be done,” referring to it as “a bit of an experiment.”
Leaver stressed that other countries must involve young people in the discussion, ensuring that any ban is implemented “with them” rather than “to them.”
He noted that France’s approach might be more effective as it mandates age verification for every user, although he cautioned that such a requirement could heighten privacy risks. He also warned that the restrictions might drive young individuals toward less-regulated online environments, simultaneously limiting their access to news and political participation.
The French legislation arrives as governments across Europe shift towards stricter regulation of children’s access to social media. In June, former British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer revealed intentions to prohibit under-16s in the UK from accessing social media starting January 2027. Meanwhile, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen suggested a “social media delay” for children throughout Europe and indicated that new legislation might be introduced in the upcoming months.
