French lawmakers have approved legislation preventing children under 15 from accessing social-media platforms. Both the National Assembly and Senate passed the final version on July 21, 2026, making France the first European country to adopt a nationwide restriction of this kind. President Emmanuel Macron strongly supported the measure as part of a broader effort to protect children’s mental health and reduce excessive screen exposure.

Under the legislation, children younger than 15 will be prohibited from creating new social-media accounts beginning September 1, 2026. Platforms will then have four additional months to identify and close existing accounts belonging to underage users. Companies must introduce age-verification systems approved by France’s privacy regulator.

The restriction is expected to cover major platforms such as Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat and Facebook. Educational websites, scientific resources, online encyclopedias and open-source software platforms are excluded. The wider legislation also prohibits students from using mobile phones in French high schools, although schools may allow limited exceptions.

Supporters believe the measure will protect children from addictive algorithms, cyberbullying, harmful content, depression and unhealthy social comparison. Critics question how age verification can work without compromising users’ privacy or online anonymity. The legislation could also face constitutional scrutiny, while the European Commission will examine whether it complies with existing EU digital regulations. French National Assembly legislative record