France to Ban Social Media Access for Children Under 15, Following Indonesia and Australia

France is poised to become the first European country to strictly ban social media access for children under 15, following in the footsteps of Indonesia and Australia. The French Parliament has approved the legislation, which President Emmanuel Macron has championed as a key reform during his term, with implementation targeted for September 2026.

Under the new rules, the ban will be rolled out in two phases. Starting 1 September 2026, children under 15 will be prohibited from creating new social media accounts. The restriction will then extend to existing accounts beginning in January 2027.

Minister for Digital Affairs Anne Le Hénanff stated that the timeline is realistic, as age verification tools are already available and additional supporting technologies are under development. She emphasised that the responsibility for enforcing the ban lies with the social media platforms themselves. “In four months, everyone in France will have to verify their age,” Le Hénanff said. “If someone is under 15, their account will be closed.” She also provided assurances that users’ personal data would be protected.

France’s move comes amid a growing global trend to regulate children’s access to social media, driven by increasing concerns over the platforms’ harmful effects on young people. Indonesia enforced its own restrictions through a government regulation, while Australia has also set a minimum age of 16 for social media access.