France has become the first EU country to pass a law banning social media use for children under 15, requiring platforms to implement age verification. President Emmanuel Macron said the measure will take effect after review by the Constitutional Council. New account registrations will be blocked from September, with existing accounts required to verify by January 2027. Platforms must use age‑verification technology approved by France’s privacy regulator.
France Bans Social Media For Under-15s — Age Verification Starts This September, Full Rollout By Jan 2027
"It's up to the Constitutional Council to rule, then on to action to make this measure concrete and protect our children online," French President Emmanuel Macron said.
France has become the first member of the European Union to adopt a law that will bar children under 15 from using social media, after parliament approved legislation requiring platforms to block underage users through mandatory age‑verification systems.
How the law will roll out
The bill, which passed the French Parliament with overwhelming support, will be sent to the Constitutional Council for review before it takes full effect. Under the government's timetable, platforms must prevent children under 15 from creating new social media accounts beginning in September (the back‑to‑school period). From January 2027 the obligation will expand to existing accounts, meaning all users in France will need to verify they are at least 15.
Teenager uses a smartphone while in bed.
Verification and enforcement
French officials say the law will require social platforms to deploy age‑verification technologies approved by France’s privacy regulator. Supporters argue the staged approach gives companies time to develop compliant systems while aiming to reduce harms to young people’s mental health and improve online safety. Critics have raised questions about privacy, implementation costs and the effectiveness of verification methods.
Political response and international context
People holding cellphones.
President Emmanuel Macron announced the measure on X, saying the policy had been voted on and promising that the government would take steps to make the measure "concrete and protect our children online" following the Constitutional Council's review. Observers note that France joins a growing number of countries tightening rules on minors' access to social media: Australia introduced a similar minimum‑age requirement for platforms last year, and the United Kingdom, Spain, Greece and Denmark are among others reported to be considering comparable measures.
What comes next
The Constitutional Council's review and the technical standards set by regulators will determine how quickly and effectively the rules are implemented. Platforms operating in France will need to adapt account‑creation flows and verification tools to comply, and parents, schools and child‑safety groups will be watching closely as the rollout begins.
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