By Soniya:
France has passed a landmark law banning children under the age of 15 from accessing social media platforms, becoming the first European country to introduce a nationwide age restriction. Approved by the French Parliament, the legislation is aimed at protecting children from online harms such as cyberbullying, harmful content, and digital addiction while strengthening online safety.
The law will be implemented in two phases. Beginning September 2026, new users under 15 will be prevented from creating social media accounts through mandatory age verification. From January 2027, the requirement will extend to all existing accounts, with users required to verify their age to continue accessing social media platforms.
The French government says the legislation fulfills President Emmanuel Macron’s commitment to enhancing child safety online and improving the mental well-being of young users. Social media companies operating in France will be responsible for implementing reliable age verification systems to comply with the new regulations.
While the law has been welcomed as a major step toward child protection, privacy advocates and digital rights experts have raised concerns over data security, the effectiveness of age verification technologies, and the possibility of minors bypassing restrictions. France’s move follows similar action by Australia, while the European Union and the United Kingdom are also considering stricter regulations for children’s access to social media.
The legislation reflects a growing global effort to create a safer digital environment for children while balancing online freedom with stronger protections for young users.
