France passes law banning under-15s from social media
France has passed legislation banning social media access for children under 15, requiring age verification for all users starting in 2027. The law aims to protect youth mental health, though critics have raised concerns regarding privacy and the effectiveness of age-check tools.
Why it matters
This represents a significant shift in global digital regulation, as governments increasingly intervene to limit children's exposure to social media platforms.
Image source, Getty Images By Hugh Schofield , Paris correspondent and Ottilie Mitchell , BBC News Published 24 minutes ago France's parliament has approved a law to ban social media for under-15s from January 2027, making it the first European country to block young people from the platforms.
The law will mean everyone in France must verify their age to access social media and comes as the UK and EU are developing their own limits in response to concerns for children's mental health.
French President Emmanuel Macron has welcomed the move, which he had pledged to introduce to mark the end of his decade in office.
While sceptics have questioned the law's viability, the government has insisted the online tools to put the age checks in place are effective and safe.
Both the French Senate and National Assembly adopted the ban on Tuesday, despite criticism from some on the left.
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