France's Parliament Bans Social Media for Children Under 15
In France, starting September 1, children under 15 will be prohibited from creating accounts on social media, and platforms will be required to verify users' ages.
On July 21, 2026, the parliament of France approved a ban on the use of social media by children under 15. The bill was supported by both chambers — the National Assembly and the Senate, Reuters reports.
Under the new rules, starting September 1, children who have not yet reached the age of 15 will be prohibited from creating accounts on social media. Platforms will be given an additional four months to identify and close existing accounts belonging to underage users.
Social media platforms will also be required to implement an age verification system approved by the French personal data protection regulator. French President Emmanuel Macron expects the law to take effect by the start of the new school year.
Deputy Minister for Artificial Intelligence Anne Le Hénanff stated that France has become the first country in Europe to establish a so-called age of digital majority. Previously, similar restrictions were introduced by Australia, where persons under 16 are prohibited from using social media.
Macron explained the necessity of the ban by the negative impact of social media on adolescents' attention, health, and safety. According to him, the authorities must help young people "become adults and, above all, citizens," and therefore access to social platforms must be restricted until the age of 15.
The Union of Orthodox Journalists previously reported that religious clinics in France will be required to perform euthanasia.
