France becomes first EU nation to ban social media for children under 15

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France has become the first country in the European Union to ban children under 15 from using social media after lawmakers approved sweeping legislation requiring platforms to block young users through age-verification systems, citing growing concerns over children’s mental health and online safety.

“I had committed to it, and now it’s been voted on: social media will be banned for those under 15 starting back-to-school,” French President Emmanuel Macron said in a Tuesday X post.

“Thanks to the parliamentarians,” he added. “It’s up to the Constitutional Council to rule, then on to action to make this measure concrete and protect our children online.”

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CNN reported Tuesday that France joins a growing list of countries moving to restrict children’s access to social media, with Australia becoming the first nation to ban social media for users under 16 last year. The United Kingdom plans to introduce similar rules next year.

Spain, Greece and Denmark are also considering minimum age requirements.

CNN reported that the French measure passed with overwhelming support in Parliament and now heads to Macron for his signature.

Australia requires platforms to take reasonable measures to keep children below the minimum age from creating or maintaining accounts, while French officials have pledged to introduce age-verification systems to enforce the legislation, according to the report.

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Teenager uses a smartphone while in bed.

BBC reported that under the rollout plan, the law will first bar children under 15 from creating new social media accounts beginning in September, with age verification required for all new users.

Starting in January 2027, the requirement will expand to existing accounts, meaning all users in France will need to verify they are at least 15. According to the BBC, platforms will be required to use age-verification technology approved by France’s privacy regulator.

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