French Parliament Approves Social Media Ban for Under-15s

Published Jul 22, 02:00 AM UTC

French lawmakers have approved a national social media ban for children under 15, with 279 votes in favor and 81 against. The law prohibits younger teens from creating new social media accounts starting September 1, 2025, and will apply to existing accounts from January 1, 2027. It also bans mobile phones in most high schools, extending existing restrictions in middle and primary schools. The French privacy regulator will oversee companies' age verification systems. President Emmanuel Macron hailed the law as a significant achievement, though the European Commission had requested revisions to ensure EU law compliance. France follows Australia, which enacted the world's first ban for under-16s in December. The law comes as EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen is expected to announce EU-wide measures targeting social media use by children in September. Several EU countries, including Denmark, Spain, and Greece, are also considering tighter social media rules.