France’s National Assembly has given final approval to a bill banning children under the age of 15 from using social media. The legislation, the first of its kind in Europe, will take effect at the beginning of the next academic year.
The bill, championed by President Emmanuel Macron, was approved by the Senate by a vote of 243 to two and by the National Assembly by 279 to 81. The final text, prepared by a joint committee of seven senators and seven members of parliament, was formally adopted following the votes.
From September 1, children under the age of 15 will no longer be allowed to create social media accounts. For minors who already have social media accounts, the ban will take effect on January 1, 2027. The law also prohibits the use of mobile phones in high schools beginning Sept. 1, although schools will be able to introduce exceptions through their internal regulations.
Social media platforms including Instagram, Facebook, Snapchat and TikTok will be required to implement age verification systems. YouTube and WhatsApp will also be required to verify users’ ages for features that allow posting or commenting.
The new legislation does not impose penalties on children or their parents for violating the ban. Instead, responsibility for enforcing the age restrictions rests with the social media platforms.
As debate continues over the practical challenges of implementing such a far-reaching measure in a short period, some critics argue that young people, who are deeply integrated with technology, will not be prevented from using social media by the ban alone.
According to the French Agency for Food, Environmental and Occupational Health & Safety (Anses), half of young people in France spend between two and five hours a day on their smartphones, with most of that time devoted to social media. According to the 2025 Digital Barometer published by CREDOC, 58 percent of children aged 12 to 17 say they use social media every day, with many regularly posting, sharing or commenting on content.
In a scientific assessment published in February, Anses said adolescents are “particularly vulnerable” to the harmful effects of social media because they have “less emotional and behavioral regulation capacity” than adults.
The agency identified a wide range of negative effects among adolescents, including sleep disorders, reduced self-esteem, risky behavior and the impact of cyberbullying on mental health.
Calling the legislation “an important step,” President Macron said, “France is becoming a European leader in protecting our children and young people.”
