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France bans under-15 social media
France’s parliament definitively adopted a bill barring children under 15 from using social media platforms, with the measure set to take effect from September 1 for new accounts and from January 1, 2027 for existing accounts.
“20 Minutes with AFP Published on 21/07/2026 at 21:11 • Updated on 21/07/2026 at 21:11 There you go”
The law was adopted by the Senate and then by the National Assembly in a vote of 279 votes to 81, and President Emmanuel Macron hailed it as “a major step forward,” saying “France is leading the way in Europe when it comes to protecting our children and teenagers.”
Digital Minister Anne Le Hénanff said the age-verification system would be “operational” within the deadline, explaining, “We, the French, will all have to prove our age for four months. If you are under fifteen the account will be closed.”
The bill also bans the use of mobile phones in high schools, while allowing exceptions that may be provided for in institutions’ internal regulations.
Lawmakers said the ban would not cover online encyclopedias and educational or scientific directories, and the text provides for exceptions for online encyclopedias and educational digital projects.
Age checks divide lawmakers
The age-verification approach has divided lawmakers, with Green senator Mathilde Ollivier asking, “How seriously can one believe that in a few weeks … such a complex device could be operational? Who will concretely carry out the age verifications?”, denouncing the text as a mere display.
In response, Anne Le Hénanff asserted that these tools “exist,” citing France Identité, Docaposte, or the European app presented by the European Commission, while Arthur Delaporte expressed concerns about “respect for privacy” as well as minors’ freedom of “information and expression.”
The bill’s scope also drew debate, with the National Assembly and Senate differing earlier on whether to prohibit all online social networking services or to establish a blacklist of platforms covered by the ban.
After European Commission feedback that the latest version was not fully compatible with EU law, lawmakers agreed to propose a blanket ban, while leaving EU authorities in charge of ensuring platforms comply with the age restriction.
Macron said the Constitutional Council must rule before action can be taken, and he posted, “The Constitutional Council must now rule on it, and then it will be time to take action to make this measure a reality and protect our children online,” in a video on social media.
EU and regulators face next
The law’s rollout hinges on how platforms implement age verification, and the legislation states that platforms must verify users’ ages and prevent access by those under 15 to services considered social networks.
Rapporteur Laure Miller said YouTube and WhatsApp will have to implement age verification only for features akin to a social network, such as sharing channels or comments, while watching videos and private messaging would not be covered by the prohibition.
The European Commission is preparing a “progressive and gradual” access for minors to social networks, with which the French law must be “in harmony,” and the EU executive is also preparing proposals after summer for a phased approach to access by age.
France’s ban is expected to be enforced by Arcom, France’s audiovisual and digital communications regulator, and CNN reported that Arcom says children aged 12 to 17 in France spend an average of 1 hour and 21 minutes a day on TikTok.
As the ban approaches the September start date, the AP noted that if adopted Tuesday, the law can’t be passed before Aug. 10 because of the notification period required by EU law, leaving the Constitutional Council review as a potential timing factor.
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