Social Media Ban for Children Under 15: Parliament Given Final Approval

Amid growing global concerns over the harmful impact of digital content on children’s mental health, France has taken a landmark step by approving a strict new law that bans children under the age of 15 from using social media platforms.

The French Parliament has given final approval to the legislation, making France the first country in the European Union to introduce such a comprehensive restriction. The measure is one of the key reforms introduced by President Emmanuel Macron’s government and is expected to come into effect before the start of the upcoming academic year.

Unanimous Approval in Parliament:

The bill received strong support in both the French Senate and the National Assembly. Alongside the social media restrictions, lawmakers also approved a complete ban on mobile phone use in high schools, further strengthening measures aimed at protecting children and improving the learning environment.

No New Social Media Accounts for Children Under 15:

Under the new law, from September 1, children below the age of 15 will not be allowed to create new accounts on any social media platform.

Existing Accounts to Be Closed:

Social media companies will be given four months to identify and close accounts belonging to users under the age of 15.

Mandatory Age Verification:

The legislation requires social media platforms to use an official age verification system approved by France’s privacy regulator to verify users’ ages before allowing account creation or access.

Educational Websites Exempt:

The ban will not apply to educational and scientific websites, including online encyclopedias. The exemption is intended to ensure that students continue to have unrestricted access to learning resources.

Constitutional Review Before Enforcement:

President Emmanuel Macron welcomed Parliament’s decision, describing it as “a major step toward protecting children from online dangers.”

Before becoming law, the legislation will undergo a review by the Constitutional Council to ensure it complies with the French Constitution. Once approved, it will officially come into force.

The decision has been widely praised by parents’ organizations and child rights advocates. The move comes after several French families filed lawsuits against TikTok, alleging that harmful content on the platform contributed to teenage suicides.

France’s decision follows Australia’s recent law banning social media access for children under 16 years of age, making it one of the strongest efforts worldwide to protect young users from the risks associated with social media.