Landmark law also removes cellphones from high schools as governments worldwide move to shield children from digital harm
by Emmitt Barry, Worthy News Washington D.C. Bureau Chief
PARIS (Worthy News) – France’s Parliament has approved a sweeping ban preventing children under the age of 15 from using social media, making the country the first member of the European Union to adopt a blanket nationwide prohibition.
Both the French Senate and National Assembly passed the legislation Tuesday, delivering one of President Emmanuel Macron’s signature second-term initiatives as concern grows over the effect of social media on children’s mental health, attention spans, and development.
The legislation also bans cellphone use in French high schools, extending restrictions already imposed in many elementary and middle schools.
Macron has repeatedly urged young people to spend less time on their phones and more time reading, learning, and engaging with the world around them.
“We need to slow down and help you become adults, and above all citizens,” Macron told teenagers at an event in April while criticizing the largely unregulated environment created by social media companies.
Ban Could Begin September 1
Under the legislation, children younger than 15 would be prohibited from opening new social media accounts beginning September 1, 2026.
Social media companies would then receive an additional four months to identify and close existing accounts operated by children under the age limit. Platforms would also be required to use age-verification systems approved by France’s privacy regulator.
The ban does not apply to online encyclopedias or certain educational and scientific services.
Macron wants the restrictions in place by the beginning of the new school year. However, the legislation could first face review by France’s Constitutional Council, potentially delaying its implementation.
Critics have questioned whether the law can be effectively enforced without undermining online privacy or requiring adults to verify their identities. Supporters argue that government intervention became necessary after social media companies repeatedly failed to prevent children from accessing harmful material.
Other Nations Moving Toward Restrictions
France’s decision is part of a rapidly expanding international effort to protect children from addictive platform design, explicit material, cyberbullying, and algorithmically promoted harmful content.
Australia became the first country to enact a nationwide social media ban for children under 16. The restriction took effect on December 10, 2025, and applies to major platforms including TikTok, YouTube, Instagram, Facebook, Snapchat, Reddit, and X. Companies that fail to comply may face fines approaching $35 million.
Britain plans to approve an under-16 ban by Christmas, with implementation expected around spring 2027.
Denmark has announced plans to prohibit social media use for children under 15, although parents could permit access to selected platforms beginning at age 13. Greece has said it is close to announcing its own under-15 ban.
Spain is preparing restrictions for children under 16, while Norway, Poland, Slovenia, and Sweden are considering or drafting legislation establishing a minimum social media age of 15.
Turkey has already passed an under-15 ban, while the United Arab Emirates approved a minimum social media age of 15 in June, becoming the first Arab nation to adopt such a restriction. Malaysia has begun preventing children under 16 from registering social media accounts.
The European Parliament has also called for an EU-wide prohibition on children under 16 accessing social media, video-sharing platforms, and artificial-intelligence companions without parental consent. Its proposal would create an absolute ban for children under 13.
The movement reflects a growing recognition that parents cannot carry the burden alone when some of the world’s largest corporations employ algorithms deliberately engineered to hold children’s attention. France’s law will now test whether governments can restore meaningful boundaries around childhood without sacrificing legitimate privacy and freedom of expression.
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