The French Parliament approved in its final reading a bill banning access to social networks for children under 15 years of age. The law will come into force in September 2026, with the start of the new academic year.
Members of parliament approved the reform by a majority of 279 votes to 81. The law obliges platforms to implement age verification mechanisms and introduces a ban on the use of mobile phones in secondary schools.
The implementation of the law will be monitored by Arcom, the French authority for regulating audiovisual and digital communications.
In addition to the social media ban itself, French law also prohibits advertising that encourages minors to join social networks, including through influencers, and requires social media advertising to carry a clear warning that the product is dangerous for children under 15.
The first country to introduce a ban on teenagers’ access to social networks was Australia. However, just six months later, it was forced to tighten sanctions against platforms for violating the ban, since studies showed that most teenagers circumvent it.
In Turkey, a law restricting the access of teenagers under 15 years of age to social networks was adopted in April 2026. In Italy, current rules require active parental consent for the creation of a social media account for children under 14 years of age.
Various legislative initiatives limiting adolescents’ access to social networks are being promoted in Denmark, Norway, Great Britain, Spain, Greece, and Poland.