France has passed a bill that bans social media use for children under 15, according to CNN. If approved by France’s Constitutional Council, the legislation would make it the first European Union member to implement such a ban, following similar measures adopted by Australia in 2024.
The new law aims to address health concerns associated with children’s social media use. Alongside the social media ban, it prohibits mobile phone usage in schools and introduces new advertising rules for social platforms, as reported by the Associated Press. Regulators plan to use age verification tools to determine eligibility for account creation, although specific implementation details remain unclear.
ARCOM, France’s digital communications regulator, will oversee enforcement of the ban once enacted. President Emmanuel Macron has indicated he wants the law to be in effect by the start of the school year in September. Previously, he requested a swift parliamentary vote on the legislation.
France is not alone in considering such measures, with the United Kingdom exploring a ban and partially enforcing age-gating through the Online Safety Act. Denmark is also nearing the introduction of its own ban. Meanwhile, Canadian regulators proposed a bill in June to restrict social media access for children 16 and younger.
Despite the push for bans, challenges remain. Studies in Australia revealed that many children continued using social media even after the ban was established, potentially due to ineffective age verification methods. Similar difficulties may arise in France as it attempts to implement its new regulations.
