France Leads EU With Comprehensive Social Media Ban for Minors

WHO:

CNN - President Emmanuel Macron stated, “France is leading the way in Europe when it comes to protecting our children and teenagers.”

CNN - Digital Minister Anne Le Henanff said, “If someone is under 15, the account will be closed,” regarding the enforcement of the new law.

Al Jazeera - Digital Minister Anne Le Henanff stated, “If someone is under 15, the account will be closed,” regarding the enforcement of the new law.

AP News - Gaëlle Berbonde, a 52-year-old resident of the Paris region, expressed support for the bill, stating, “We’ve been campaigning for this bill from the start because, frankly, we have no other option, no other way to counter tech giants.”

AP News - Ines Legendre, a legal adviser for the online protection group e-Enfance, commented on the law's implementation challenges.

CNN - French lawmakers

CNN - President Emmanuel Macron

CNN - Arcom, France’s audiovisual and digital communications regulator

CNN - Geraldine Delacroix, mother of six

CNN - Édouard Geffray, French Education Minister

CNN - Katia Roux, Amnesty International France

CNN - Ursula von der Leyen, European Commission President

CNN - Nelya Ouali, teenager

WHAT:

CNN - The new law will ban access to some accounts for anyone under 15, with the ban on existing accounts for children under 15 taking effect in January 2027.

CNN - The law is expected to apply to all major social media platforms.

CNN - The ban will be rolled out in two stages, with children under the age of 15 blocked from creating new accounts starting September 1.

CNN - The law will be enforced by Arcom, France’s audiovisual and digital communications regulator, and is expected to apply to all major social media platforms.

AP News - The legislation is one of the final major measures adopted under Macron’s presidency before he leaves office next year.

AP News - The law will require social media platforms in France to verify all users' ages starting in January.

CNN - President Macron stated, “Social media will be banned for children under 15 starting this school year,” following the vote on the bill.

CNN - The law will be enforced by Arcom, France’s audiovisual and digital communications regulator, and is expected to apply to all major social media platforms.

CNN - The ban will be rolled out in two stages, with children under the age of 15 blocked from creating new accounts starting September 1, and existing accounts affected from January 2027.

AP News - The legislation is one of the final major measures adopted under Macron’s presidency before he leaves office next year.

Al Jazeera - The ban will be rolled out in two stages, with children under the age of 15 blocked from creating new accounts starting September 1, and existing accounts affected from January 2027.

CNN - President Macron described the law as “a major step forward” in protecting children and teenagers.

AP News - The law also bans the use of mobile phones in high schools.

AP News - The legislation is one of the final major measures adopted under Macron’s presidency before he leaves office next year.

BBC News - The law will require social media platforms in France to verify all users' ages starting in January.

Techmeme - The law is expected to potentially go into effect as soon as September 1.

Engadget - The new law also bans the use of mobile phones in schools.

CNN - President Macron will sign the bill into law following the overwhelming vote by French lawmakers.

CNN - The law is expected to take effect starting September 1.

Techmeme - The law will ban access to some accounts for anyone under 15.

CNN - French lawmakers voted to ban social media use for children under the age of 15, making France the first country in the European Union to introduce such an age limit.

ABC News World - The law was adopted with overwhelming support from French lawmakers.

NY Post - Several families in France have sued TikTok over teen suicides they say are linked to harmful content.

CNN - French lawmakers voted to ban social media use for children under the age of 15.

CNN - The law will be enforced by Arcom and is expected to apply to all major social media platforms.

CNN - Children aged 12 to 17 in France spend an average of 1 hour and 21 minutes a day on TikTok.

CNN - The proposal for a ban was welcomed by many French parents.

CNN - A previous ban on access to online pornography for minors in France came into effect in 2025.

WHERE:

CNN - France

CNN - European Union

WHEN:

CNN - The ban on existing accounts for children under 15 will take effect in January 2027.

Al Jazeera - The ban on existing accounts for children under 15 will take effect in January 2027.

CNN - The new law is expected to take effect starting this school year, specifically in September.

CNN - The ban on access to online pornography for minors was implemented in 2025.

WHY:

CNN - Macron emphasized the need to protect children from manipulation by social media platforms, stating, “The emotions of our children and our teenagers are not for sale or to be manipulated, neither by American platforms nor by Chinese algorithms.”

CNN - Macron emphasized the need to protect children from manipulation by social media platforms, stating, “The brains of our children and our teenagers are not for sale.”

Al Jazeera - The legislation aims to protect children from the harmful effects of social media, as highlighted by concerns from France’s public health watchdog regarding platforms like TikTok, Snapchat, and Instagram.

AP News - The law aims to protect children from the harmful effects of digital content, as highlighted by a report indicating that some 90% of children between 12 and 17 use smartphones daily to access the internet.

ABC News World - Concerns grow worldwide over the harmful effects of digital content on children prompted the legislation.

CNN - Concerns over the harmful effects of digital content on children prompted the legislation, with President Macron emphasizing the need to protect children from manipulation by social media platforms.

CNN - Concerns over the harmful effects of digital content on children prompted the legislation.

CNN - President Macron stated, “The brains of our children and our teenagers are not for sale,” emphasizing the need to protect children from manipulation by social media platforms.

HOW:

CNN - The French government has promised to implement age controls to back up the law, although it is not yet clear how social media sites will verify users’ ages.

AP News - The law will require social media platforms to verify users' ages starting in January, with existing accounts for those under 15 needing identification and suspension.

CNN - The French government plans to implement age controls to verify users' ages, although it is not yet clear how social media sites will verify users’ ages.

Al Jazeera - The law will not cover access to online encyclopedias, educational, or scientific directories.

AP News - The law will require social media platforms to verify users' ages starting in January, with existing accounts for those under 15 needing identification and suspension.

CNN - The French government has promised to implement age controls to back up the law, although it is not yet clear how social media sites will verify users’ ages.

CNN - The French government plans to implement age controls to verify users' ages, although it is not yet clear how social media sites will verify users’ ages.

CNN - The French government plans to implement age controls to verify users' ages.

CNN - Social media companies are required to take reasonable steps to prevent underage children from opening or keeping accounts, as seen in Australia.

(UPDATED July 22, 2026 17:23 UTC)

A new law in France will ban access to social media accounts for anyone under 15, with the prohibition on existing accounts taking effect in January 2027. The law, which will apply to all major social media platforms, will be rolled out in two stages, starting with a ban on creating new accounts for children under 15 beginning September 1. President Macron highlighted the importance of protecting children from manipulation by social media, asserting that their emotions should not be exploited by any platforms, whether American or Chinese, while the government plans to implement age controls to support the law, though the specifics of age verification remain unclear.

(UPDATED July 22, 2026 14:40 UTC)

President Macron announced that France is taking a significant step in protecting children and teenagers from social media manipulation, stating, “The brains of our children and our teenagers are not for sale.” Under a new law enforced by Arcom, France’s audiovisual and digital communications regulator, social media platforms will be required to verify users' ages, with accounts for those under 15 set to be closed starting in January 2027. This legislation marks one of the final major measures adopted during Macron’s presidency as he prepares to leave office next year.

(UPDATED July 22, 2026 13:23 UTC)

President Macron announced that social media will be banned for children under 15 starting this school year, following the passage of a new bill. The law, which will be enforced by Arcom, France’s audiovisual and digital communications regulator, will block children under 15 from creating new accounts beginning September 1, with existing accounts affected from January 2027. Macron highlighted the importance of protecting children from manipulation by social media, asserting that “the brains of our children and our teenagers are not for sale.”

(UPDATED July 22, 2026 10:42 UTC)

In a significant move to protect children from the harmful effects of social media, Digital Minister Anne Le Henanff announced that accounts for users under 15 will be closed, with new account creation banned starting September 1 and existing accounts affected from January 2027. President Macron praised the legislation as “a major step forward” in safeguarding the well-being of children and teenagers, addressing concerns raised by France’s public health watchdog about platforms like TikTok, Snapchat, and Instagram. It's important to note that the law will not restrict access to online encyclopedias or educational and scientific directories.

(UPDATED July 22, 2026 07:48 UTC)

A new law aimed at protecting children from the harmful effects of digital content has been adopted, which includes a ban on mobile phones in high schools. Gaëlle Berbonde, a resident of the Paris region, expressed her support for the bill, emphasizing the need to counter tech giants, while legal adviser Ines Legendre highlighted the challenges of implementing the law. Starting in January, social media platforms will be required to verify users' ages, with existing accounts for those under 15 needing identification and facing suspension.

(UPDATED July 22, 2026 05:53 UTC)

A new law in France will require social media platforms to verify the ages of all users starting in January. This regulation is expected to potentially go into effect as soon as September 1. The move aims to enhance online safety and ensure age-appropriate content for users.

(UPDATED July 21, 2026 22:18 UTC)

A new law has been enacted that bans the use of mobile phones in schools. This legislation comes in response to growing concerns worldwide about the harmful effects of digital content on children. Advocates believe that limiting phone use in educational settings will help create a healthier environment for students.

(UPDATED July 21, 2026 21:21 UTC)

President Macron is set to sign a new law that will ban access to certain online accounts for anyone under the age of 15, following a strong vote by French lawmakers. This legislation, driven by concerns over the harmful effects of digital content on children, is expected to take effect starting September 1. The French government has pledged to implement age controls to support the law, although the specifics of how social media platforms will verify users' ages remain unclear.

(UPDATED July 21, 2026 20:24 UTC)

In a significant move, French lawmakers have voted to ban social media use for children under the age of 15, making France the first country in the European Union to introduce such an age limit. The law received overwhelming support from lawmakers, driven by concerns over the harmful effects of digital content on children, with President Macron highlighting the need to protect young users from manipulation by social media platforms. To enforce this new legislation, the French government plans to implement age controls to verify users' ages, although the specifics of how social media sites will carry out this verification remain unclear.

(UPDATED July 21, 2026 19:29 UTC)

French lawmakers have voted to ban social media use for children under the age of 15, a move that President Macron supports, stating that “The brains of our children and our teenagers are not for sale.” The law, which will be enforced by Arcom, is expected to take effect starting this school year in September and aims to protect children from the harmful effects of digital content. To ensure compliance, social media companies will be required to implement age controls and take reasonable steps to prevent underage users from creating or maintaining accounts.