France Enacts Under-15 Social Media Ban, Extending Cellphone Curbs to 15-18s
Updated
Updated · The New York Times · Jul 21
France Enacts Under-15 Social Media Ban, Extending Cellphone Curbs to 15-18s
3 articles · Updated · The New York Times · Jul 21
Summary
France became the first European country to pass a law restricting social media access for children under 15, with the measure able to take effect as soon as Sept. 1.
The law also bars cellphones in high schools, expanding an existing ban that already covers primary and middle schools.
Emmanuel Macron made the measure a personal priority, arguing it is needed to curb online bullying, predatory contact, exposure to extreme content and mental-health risks for minors.
Enforcement remains a key challenge because France has limited power over major global platforms, and Australia’s under-16 ban has so far struggled to keep young teenagers off social media.
The move could shape wider European policy as Britain and Canada pursue similar steps, several EU countries draft their own laws, and Brussels prepares bloc-wide measures for September.
Australia’s youth social media ban is already failing. Can France’s new law for under-15s actually succeed?
Will the tech needed for France's ban destroy online anonymity and create a new era of digital surveillance?
France’s Digital Majority: The 2026 Under-15 Social Media Ban and Its Impact on EU Child Protection Policy
Overview
France has taken the lead in Europe by establishing a 'digital majority,' setting an online age limit to better protect children and requiring mandatory age verification for adult sites. This move positions France at the forefront of efforts to regulate children's online access and sets a precedent within the European Union. Other countries like Spain and Greece have also introduced their own age verification systems, but France is the first to implement such a comprehensive measure. These national actions highlight the urgent need for a unified EU approach, as the European Commission now seeks to harmonize these initiatives into a common framework for child online safety.