France has become the first European Union country to ban social media for children under 15 after lawmakers overwhelmingly approved the measure. President Emmanuel Macron strongly supported the bill and is expected to sign it into law, with the ban set to take effect at the start of the new school year in September.
The law aims to protect children from harmful content and algorithm-driven manipulation, with enforcement handled by France’s digital regulator, Arcom. While details on age verification are still unclear, the government has pledged to implement controls similar to Australia’s system, which requires platforms to take reasonable steps to block underage users.
Earlier proposals — such as banning social media advertising targeting children — were dropped from the final version. The move follows similar actions in Australia and planned restrictions in the U.K., Spain, Greece, and Denmark. France has previously introduced age-based online restrictions, including a 2025 ban on minors accessing online pornography.