The French Parliament formally enacted a law prohibiting children under 15 from using social media, establishing France as the first European nation to incorporate this limitation into its national laws.
The initiative is the result of a campaign initiated by President Emmanuel Macron in 2017, wherein he has criticized anonymity on social platforms as a pathway to online harassment.
The legislation, framed as a safeguard for children against the dangers linked to social media, including addiction, bullying, and abuse, has also raised worries about greater governmental control over internet users, as the age verification mandates — aimed at minors — require identity verification for all.
“France is paving the path in Europe by being the initial country to create a ‘digital age of majority’ to enhance the online protection of our children,” stated Anne Le Hénanff, minister delegate for digital sovereignty, after the vote.
The Senate approved the compromise legislation with a vote of 243 to 2, and shortly thereafter, the National Assembly did the same, allowing Macron to enact the law, pending examination by the Constitutional Council.
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The main provision of the bill prohibits minors under 15 from using “an online social network service.” Prominent platforms like Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and Snapchat are anticipated to be included in the ban, although legislators did not specify the exact extent.
Wikipedia, along with other online encyclopedias, open-source software, and educational platforms, is specifically excluded. The platforms themselves hold the responsibility for confirming users’ ages and must provide at least two distinct methods for verification.
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Implementation will occur in two distinct phases. From Sept. 1, new accounts will undergo age verification, while current accounts for minors under 15 have until Jan. 1, 2027, before suspension.
The legislation further expands France’s current smartphone prohibition in middle schools to include high schools beginning in the 2026 academic year.
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France is the first EU member to establish a universal age limit for social networks, although it follows Australia, which set a minimum age of 16 in December 2025.