France’s National Assembly has given final approval to a bill banning the use of social media by children under the age of 15. With the implementation of the law, France will become the first European Union member state to restrict access for this age group to platforms such as TikTok, Instagram and Snapchat.
Under the law, starting September 1, new accounts for people under 15 will be prohibited, while existing accounts will be blocked from January 2027.
French President Emmanuel Macron has described the measure as part of policies aimed at protecting children and adolescents. French officials say responsibility for enforcing the law will lie with digital platforms, with age-verification mechanisms implemented while protecting users’ privacy.
The law also introduces restrictions on mobile phone use in schools and provides exemptions for educational websites and online encyclopedias.
