France becomes the first EU nation to ban social media for under-15s
France has become the first European Union country to approve a nationwide ban on social media for children under the age of 15 as part of a major effort to protect young people from the harmful effects of excessive screen time and online content.
The legislation, approved by both houses of parliament, also bans the use of mobile phones in high schools. However, the law must still be reviewed by France’s Constitutional Council before it can come into force.
President Emmanuel Macron wants the new rules to be implemented before the start of the new school year in September. He welcomed the bill’s approval and said France is leading Europe in protecting children and teenagers online.
The government said the law is designed to reduce children’s exposure to harmful online content and limit excessive social media use. However, the restrictions will not apply to online encyclopedias, educational directories, or scientific websites.
According to France’s health watchdog, one in two teenagers spends between two and five hours a day using a smartphone. The report also found that 90 percent of children aged 12 to 17 use smartphones daily to access the internet, while 58 percent regularly use social media platforms.
Health experts have warned that excessive social media use can lower self-esteem and increase exposure to harmful content related to self-harm, drug use, and suicide.
One of the biggest challenges will be enforcing the new law. Authorities are expected to introduce age verification systems, but officials have not yet explained how social media companies will verify users’ ages or deal with existing accounts owned by children under the age of 15. France’s digital communications regulator, ARCOM, will be responsible for enforcing the law once it officially takes effect.
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Legal experts and privacy advocates have raised concerns that the legislation could be difficult to enforce and may affect online privacy. Critics, including members of the France Unbowed party, argue that the law could face constitutional challenges and create difficulties in protecting online anonymity.
France’s move is part of a growing international effort to limit children’s access to social media. Australia became the first country to ban social media for children under the age of 16 in 2024 and introduced heavy fines for platforms that fail to comply.
Several other countries, including Spain, Denmark, Greece, and the United Kingdom, are also considering stricter rules for young social media users. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has also called for stronger protections for children across the European Union.
