France Becomes First EU Nation to Ban Social Media for Children Under 15

France has become the first nation in the European Union to ban social media for children under the age of 15. The National Assembly passed the bill by a vote of 279 to 81.

President Emmanuel Macron hailed the legislation as a “major step forward” for child protection online. He stated, “The brains of our children and our teenagers are not for sale,” targeting American and Chinese tech platforms. The bill now awaits final review by the Constitutional Council.

The move follows global criticism over the mental health impact of platforms like Instagram, TikTok, and Snapchat. Australia implemented a similar ban for under-16s in 2025, and the United Kingdom is set to follow in 2026.

Digital Minister Anne Le Henanff confirmed that existing age-verification tools would be used to enforce the measure. Accounts for users under 15 will be closed.

The legislation was accelerated by Macron to be in place before the new school year begins in September. While some speech advocates advocate for less restrictive solutions, the lower house passed a blanket ban, overriding a Senate proposal for a tiered system with parental consent.