France to become first EU nation to ban social media for children under 15
French lawmakers today voted in favor of banning social media use for children under the age of 15, making it the first nation in the European Union to introduce an age limit in line with legislation that is slowly taking hold globally.
President Emmanuel Macron, currently serving his last term, welcomed the ban, calling it a “major step forward.” He added, “France is leading the way in Europe when it comes to protecting our children and teenagers. The Constitutional Council must now rule on it, and then it will be time to take action to make this measure a reality and protect our children online.”
Following Senate approval, the country’s National Assembly members passed the bill by 279 votes to 81.
After years of widespread criticism concerning how social media is used by youngsters and how it affects their mental health, Australia made history when it became the first nation to wrestle under-16s off social media in 2025 after landmark legislation was passed in 2024. The United Kingdom has also announced a ban that will take effect next year, while Denmark, Greece and Spain are expected to follow. Separately, the EU is considering a wider ban across its 27 member states.
