In a groundbreaking move, France has become the first country within the European Union to enforce a nationwide ban on social media access for children under the age of 15. The new legislation, which was strongly supported by President Emmanuel Macron, aims to enhance online safety by requiring social media platforms to prevent users below this age from creating new accounts starting September 1. Additionally, existing accounts for children under 15 must be closed by January 2027, with mandatory age verification set to ensure compliance.
The onus of implementing this ban lies with social media companies, which are tasked with developing age-verification systems that also protect users’ personal data. This legislative effort is part of a broader initiative to shield children from the potential negative impacts of excessive social media engagement on their mental health. While proponents of the law emphasize its necessity for safeguarding young users, critics express concerns about privacy, the practical challenges of enforcement, and the risk that children might find ways to circumvent age-verification processes.
In tandem with the social media restrictions, the legislation also prohibits mobile phone use in high schools starting with the new academic year. However, certain exceptions will be made for educational websites and online encyclopedias, which will remain accessible to students.
This legislative action by France is indicative of a growing international trend towards tighter regulation of children’s access to digital platforms. Meanwhile, the European Commission has initiated the testing of a digital age-verification application across several member states as part of its exploration of broader EU-wide measures to ensure the online safety of children.