How France’s social media ban is supposed to work

It is one of President’s last projects Emmanuel Macronwhich he wants to implement until the end of his second mandate in 2027. “I promised it, now it’s decided,” he wrote on the A report from France’s national health authority has already highlighted its negative impact on the mental health of young people.

While Great Britain also wants to ban social media for under-16s, France is taking this approach as the first European one Country. In the meantime, other EU states have announced, including Spain, Austria and Germanysimilar bans.

Actually EU competence

He still has to Constitutional Council are examining the law and debates are still ongoing as to whether it is even compatible with European law. For this reason, a first attempt failed. In principle, the Commission sets the rules that apply to the digital space throughout the Union. She alone is responsible for regulating the large platforms. After the summer, she plans to propose a ban on social media for children under 13. It has also announced a European solution for age verification by the end of the year.

If the French law passes, all platforms will be affected, with the exception of online encyclopedias or digital projects for educational purposes. YouTube and WhatsApp can still be used to watch videos or chat, but they also require age verification for some functions. The introduction takes place in two steps. This applies to newly opened accounts from September 1st. There should be a transition period of four months for existing accounts until January 1, 2027 give. Until then, all users in France must register for one verification undergo.

Platforms have an obligation

Similar to Australia, platform operators are required to effectively monitor age. There is no specification of the technical means, whether using ID cards or other documents, photographs or fingerprints. You must use age verification approved by the French Data Protection Agency. Third-party providers can, for example, issue digital proof of a person’s age without receiving any further data about them. The draft law does not provide for any punitive measures for children or young people and their parents.

Porn sites France must have effective age controls in place as early as 2024 so that those under 18 do not have access. According to media regulator Arcom, this reduced usage by minors by half.

Controversial measure

Nevertheless, it is still up for debate how useful the measure is. 13-year-old Benjamin said he spends around two hours a day on platforms like TikTok and Snapchat The World: “We are returning to the prehistory of humanity!” Pierre, who is the same age, admitted that his parents compared social media to a drug. “Maybe you’re right, I’m annoyed by it too and can’t get away from it.” In a survey carried out by the Odoxa Institute a year ago among 1,001 French young people, they spoke out 67 percent for an age restriction. Teachers’ associations in turn emphasize that it is important to develop young people’s ability to criticize. The teachers’ union UNSA-Education advocated “education in digital usage” instead of a pure ban.

In Australiawhich became the first country in the world to introduce a minimum age of 16 for social media in December 2025, also showed that there are a number of ways to circumvent the regulation – from fake IDs to the use of alternative platforms.

However, this risk should not slow down the enthusiasm, says Marie-Caroline Missir, general secretary of the “Verslehaut” think tank, specializing in issues relating to youth and education. “It depends on the showdown with the platforms and we in Europe are sending a very strong signal here, after all we make up a quarter of their market.”