After Australia, now France passes law banning social media access for children under 15
In a Nutshell:
- France’s National Assembly approved the social media ban with 279 votes in favour and 81 against.
- The law will block under 15s from creating new accounts from September 1 and apply to existing accounts from January 2027.
- Digital Minister Anne Le Hénanff said platforms will be responsible for enforcing age checks and closing accounts of underage users.
- The law follows concerns over social media’s impact on adolescents, including findings from France’s public health watchdog on platforms such as TikTok, Snapchat and Instagram.
Why it Matters
France’s ban puts Europe’s growing push to restrict children’s social media access to the test, but Australia’s experience shows enforcement may be harder than passing the law. Three months after Australia introduced the world’s first under 16 social media ban, a study found around 85% of teenagers surveyed were still using platforms, with weak age checks and workarounds limiting its impact. France’s challenge will be proving that its rules can actually reduce online risks rather than simply announce new restrictions.
What We Think
The danger with social media bans is that they can create the appearance of action without fixing the systems that expose children to harm. Australia’s early results show that blocking accounts is easier on paper than in practice, and France will face the same test. The question is not only whether children can be kept off these platforms, but whether governments can force companies to make them safer in the first place.
