France bans social media for under-15s

France became the first country in the European Union to ban access to social media for under-15s, with mandatory age verification carried out by tech platforms.

What the law says

From September 2026, under-15s will not be able to create new accounts, and from January 2027 platforms must also block access to existing accounts. France thus follows Australia, the first country in the world to ban social media for under-16s, in a regulatory trend spreading across Europe and Latin America.

Why it worries

The risks range from cyberbullying and grooming to sextortion and exposure to harmful content. Research such as psychologist Jonathan Haidt’s “The Anxious Generation” links early and intensive screen access to rising adolescent anxiety and depression. The underlying technical challenge: verifying the age of millions of users without violating privacy or personal data.

The practical takeaway

The ban alone is not enough: experts insist on digital literacy, parental controls and family supervision. While countries decide their rules, the conversation at home about screen time remains the most available and effective tool.