France bans social media for under-15s

France has become the first European Union country to pass a law banning children under 15 from accessing social media platforms. The legislation, championed by President Emmanuel Macron, was approved by both chambers of parliament on July 21-22, 2026. It will take effect in stages: from September 1, 2026, new accounts for under-15s are prohibited, and by January 1, 2027, existing accounts must be closed. The law also bans mobile phones in high schools and requires age verification systems approved by France's privacy regulator. The Constitutional Council must review the law before full implementation. The ban covers platforms like Meta Platforms — Instagram, ByteDance — TikTok Shop, Snap Inc., Meta Platforms, X, and Google — YouTube, but exempts educational and encyclopedic sites. France follows Australia's 2024 under-16 ban, and other EU countries including Spain, Denmark, Greece, and Germany are considering similar measures. The International — European Commission is working on EU-wide regulations. Critics, including left-wing party France — La France Insoumise, argue the ban is unenforceable and threatens online anonymity. Supporters, including parents and children's advocates, say it is necessary to protect children from harmful content and addiction.