France has become the first country in the European Union to ban children under the age of 15 from accessing social media after Parliament gave final approval to the new law. The measure aims to protect children and teenagers from the risks associated with using social media platforms.
The legislation received broad support, passing the Senate by 243 votes to 2 before being approved by the National Assembly by 279 votes to 81. Following the vote, French President Emmanuel Macron welcomed the decision, saying France is leading the way in Europe to better protect young people.
The law will take effect on September 1, 2026, applying to all newly created accounts. Platforms such as TikTok and Facebook will be required to verify users’ ages before allowing them to register.
