PARIS — France's parliament has given final approval to legislation banning children under the age of 15 from accessing social media platforms, making the country the first in the European Union to adopt such a nationwide restriction as governments across Europe tighten scrutiny of online safety for minors.
The measure, approved by both the Senate and the National Assembly on Tuesday, requires social media companies to prevent users under 15 from opening accounts beginning with the next school year. Platforms will also be required to close existing accounts held by children below the age threshold within a transition period and implement age-verification systems approved by France's data protection authorities.
President Emmanuel Macron welcomed the vote, saying France was taking the lead in protecting children online. In a message posted after the legislation passed, Macron said he wanted the law to be in force by the start of the new academic year, while acknowledging that it must first undergo review by France's Constitutional Council before taking effect.
Junior Minister for Artificial Intelligence Anne Le Hénanff told lawmakers France was becoming "the first country in Europe to adopt a digital majority," describing the legislation as part of broader efforts to reduce the harmful effects of excessive social media use among young people.
The law forms part of a wider package aimed at strengthening protections for children in digital environments. It also expands restrictions on mobile phone use in schools, while exempting educational and scientific platforms from the social media ban. Reports indicate messaging services and some online functions may also be treated differently depending on their purpose under implementing regulations.
French authorities have cited concerns over cyberbullying, exposure to harmful content and the impact of prolonged social media use on children's mental health as key reasons for the legislation. The government has argued that age-verification technology is sufficiently developed to support enforcement.
The legislation has nevertheless drawn criticism from privacy advocates and some legal experts, who have questioned how age verification will be implemented, whether the rules comply with European Union law and how existing users will be identified. Constitutional review could also delay implementation if judges require amendments.
France's move follows Australia, which introduced a ban on social media access for children under 16, while several other European governments have proposed tighter age-based online protections. The European Commission is also considering broader measures to improve online safety for minors across the bloc.
