Translated with AI
France will begin a phased ban on social media use by children under 15 starting September 1, 2026. President Emmanuel Macron announced this after parliament approved the law.
Macron called the new law "an important step forward." He also stated that France is becoming a leader in Europe in protecting children and adolescents online.
The bill was passed by the French National Assembly with a majority vote of 279 members, with 81 members voting against it. The Senate also approved the bill earlier.
The restrictions will be introduced in stages. Beginning September 1, 2026, children under 15 will be prohibited from creating new social media accounts. Beginning in January 2027, the law will also apply to existing accounts.
Digital Minister Anne Le Hénanff announced that platforms will be required to verify users' ages. If the system determines that an account owner is under 15, their profile will be closed. However, the government assures that users' personal data will be protected.
In early July, it was reported that the European Commission intends to introduce a proposal to introduce uniform age restrictions on social media use by minors across all EU countries. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen is expected to announce this initiative on September 16 during her annual State of the Union address.
