France Approves Ban on Social Media for Minors Under 15 Years After Final Vote in Parliament in Paris, Becoming the First Country in Europe to Establish a General Restriction of This Type for Adolescents.
The French Parliament Approved This Tuesday the Law That Bans Access to Social Media Platforms Like TikTok, Instagram, X, Snapchat, and Other Platforms for Minors Under 15 Years, Consolidating That France Approves Ban on Social Media as Part of a Digital Protection Strategy for Children.
According to the Central Article of the Norm, Access to Online Social Media Services Is Explicitly Prohibited for Users Below That Age, and Existing Accounts Must Be Closed Gradually Before the End of 2026.
A Clear Calendar: Implementation from the Next School Year
The Law Was Tramited by Urgency Procedure with the Objective of Entering into Force Coinciding with the Start of the Next School Year, Scheduled for September 2026, Reinforcing the Message That France Approves Ban on Social Media as a State Policy and Not Just a Recommendation. The Authorities Want That, From That Date, French Minors Cannot Create New Accounts and That Platforms Apply Technical Filters for Age Verification.
Direct Responsibility for Technology Platforms
One of the Key Points of the Legislation Is That the Responsibility of Enforcing the Ban Falls on Technology Companies and Not on Families. By Establishing That France Approves Ban on Social Media for Minors Under 15 Years, the Text Obliges Social Media and Video and Streaming Applications to Implement Effective Age Verification Systems, in Cooperation with the State, to Identify Users and Block Access to Those Who Do Not Meet the Requirement.
Fines and Age Verification: How the Control Will Work
Companies That Fail to Comply with the Norm Will Face Economic Sanctions That Can Reach Up to 1% of Their Monthly Billing, Which Reinforces the Binding Nature of the Fact That France Approves Ban on Social Media and Not Just a Recommendation. Advanced Technical Age Verification Systems, Supervised by French Authorities, Are Expected to Be Used to Minimize the Possibility of Access by Minors.
France Approves Ban on Social Media and Becomes a Pioneer in Europe
With This Decision, France Becomes the First European Country to Legislate a General Ban on the Use of Social Media for Minors, Following Similar Initiatives Already Adopted in Australia, Although with a Cut-Off Age Set at 15 Years. That France Approves Ban on Social Media Opens a Debate in Countries Where Similar Measures Are Being Studied, Such as Spain, Ireland, Denmark, Greece, Italy, or the United Kingdom, Interested in Limiting the Exposure of Children and Adolescents to Potentially Harmful Content.
Mental Health, Bullying, and Grooming: The Reasons Behind the Law
The Government of Emmanuel Macron Defends the Norm as a Tool to Protect Children’s Mental Health, Reduce Cases of Digital Bullying, and Combat Grooming, as Well as the Constant Pressure of Algorithms and Directed Advertising. The Political Message Has Been Contundent: The Mind of Minors Is Not for Sale, and That’s Why France Approves Ban on Social Media to Set Clear Limits on the Technology Sector.
While Other Countries Observe with Attention the Effects of This Measure, the Step of France Approving Ban on Social Media for Minors Under 15 Years Is Shaping Up as a Possible Model of Reference for Future Regulations on the Use of Social Media in Adolescents, Both in Europe and in Latin America, Including the Dominican Republic, Where the Debate on Digital Protection of Minors Is Also Gaining Ground.
