Both houses of the French Parliament have approved a bill prohibiting minors under the age of 15 from registering for and using social media platforms. This makes France the first country in the European Union to introduce such a strict national age limit.
The bill, supported by President Emmanuel Macron, aims to protect children’s mental health and safety from the negative impact of social platforms, including cyberbullying, addiction, and harmful content. Platforms such as TikTok, Instagram, Snapchat, and Facebook will be required to implement robust age verification mechanisms — through ID verification, government login, or facial recognition selfies.
According to the document:
New accounts for users under 15 will become unavailable starting September 1, 2026.
Existing accounts must be verified and, if necessary, deleted by January 1, 2027.
In addition, the law provides for a complete ban on the use of mobile phones in secondary schools (collèges), expanding previous restrictions and aiming to reduce distractions during studies.
The French Minister of Digital Technologies stated that the government will prepare an official list of platforms prohibited for children. Violations of the requirements will result in severe fines for social media companies.
The initiative has received broad support from parents and educators concerned about the influence of social networks on teenagers.
President Macron called the vote an “important step” in protecting the younger generation from “addictive algorithms.”
The law will come into force after final signing and publication in the official journal. It is expected to serve as a model for other European countries.