France Bans Social Media for Children Under 15

France’s parliament approved a law on 21 July 2026 that bans social media access for children under 15 years of age. France became the first European Union member state to adopt a nationwide restriction of this kind for social media use by minors.

Social Media Regulation in France

The law applies to major social media platforms and requires age verification tools for compliance. It is linked to France’s digital regulation framework and to the role of Arcom, the country’s audiovisual and digital communications regulator.

Implementation Timeline and Exceptions

The ban will be introduced in two stages. From 1 September 2026, children under 15 will be blocked from creating new social media accounts, and from January 2027, the restriction will extend to existing accounts. The law includes exceptions for online encyclopedias, educational directories, and scientific directories. These categories are treated separately from social networking services under the legislation.

Legal Background and Policy Context

The new measure builds on a French law passed in 2023 that required parental consent for children under 15 to register on social media platforms. President Emmanuel Macron supported the bill as part of his final term agenda. French lawmakers linked the measure to concerns over children’s mental health, including anorexia, depression, self-harm, and teenage suicides. The law places enforcement responsibility on Arcom and requires platforms to apply age-check systems.

Important Facts for Exams

• France became the first European Union country to ban social media access for children under 15 nationwide.
• Arcom is France’s audiovisual and digital communications regulator.
• The law will begin in two phases, with new accounts restricted from 1 September 2026 and existing accounts from January 2027.
• France had already introduced parental consent rules for under-15 social media registration in 2023.