France approves social media ban for children under 15

The French Parliament has approved legislation prohibiting children under the age of 15 from using social media platforms, El.kz reports, citing Le Parisien.

From September, people under 15 will not be able to open accounts and age verification will be required on all new accounts. The restriction will apply to existing accounts starting on 1 January 2027.

The legislation is intended to protect minors from risks associated with the use of online platforms. French President Emmanuel Macron described the adoption of the law as an important step.

The legislation does not provide for penalties to be imposed on children or their parents. Responsibility for ensuring compliance with the new requirements rests with online platforms.

However, the law does not yet specify how social media platforms will verify users’ ages. The French authorities have previously established a working group tasked with developing and implementing an online age-verification system.

France has become the first European Union Member State to approve such a comprehensive prohibition on social media use for children under the age of 15. Similar restrictions have also begun to be introduced in other countries.

In Australia, a ban on social media use by children under the age of 16 entered into force in December 2025. In Kazakhstan, legislative discussions are also underway regarding measures to restrict children’s access to social media platforms.