France bans social media for children under 15 years old

In a first-of-its-kind move within the European Union, the French Parliament has passed a law banning children under the age of 15 from using social media platforms, making France the first EU country to adopt such a comprehensive restriction.

The decision follows months of debate over the impact of these platforms on the mental health of children and adolescents, amid rising concerns about cyberbullying, digital addiction, and suicide.

Under the law, children under 15 will be prohibited from creating new accounts, while platforms will be required to delete existing accounts within a specified timeframe and introduce reliable age-verification systems under the supervision of French authorities. The ban is expected to take effect at the beginning of the new school year, provided it passes final constitutional review.

Supporters argue that the law will help protect children from addiction, content-driven algorithms, cyberbullying, and the psychological effects associated with excessive social media use. They maintain that digital platforms are no longer merely communication tools, but environments that directly shape children’s development and behaviour.

The law has also sparked widespread debate over whether it can be effectively enforced, particularly regarding age verification and the possibility of bypassing the ban through various technological means. The European Union is also examining whether the French legislation complies with European digital-services regulations, as other countries, including Spain, Denmark, and Greece, begin discussing similar measures to protect minors online.