French lawmakers in both the Senate and National Assembly approved legislation on Tuesday that prohibits children under the age of 15 from accessing social media. The new law requires platforms to implement age verification systems approved by the French privacy regulator. President Emmanuel Macron has stated the goal is to have the regulations in place by the start of the academic year on Sept. 1.
Under the legislation, social media companies will have a four-month grace period to identify and close existing accounts held by users under the age limit. France is the first European nation to pass such a ban, following a similar move by Australia in 2024. The European Commission is currently evaluating its own regulations regarding minor safety and will review the French law to ensure it complies with broader European Union legislation.
President Macron and supporters of the bill stated the measure is necessary to protect the health and safety of minors and to encourage civic engagement outside of digital spaces. Social media companies, including Meta and Snap Inc., have generally stated opposition to blanket age bans, citing existing safety measures and age restrictions already in place. However, the companies have also indicated they will comply with local laws where they are enacted.