France's Parliament Approves Ban on Social Media for Under‑15s

Overview

• Parliament approved the measure on July 21, making it a definitive law that sets a new minimum online age of 15 for social‑media account access in France.
• The rollout is two‑stage with platforms required to block creation of new accounts by under‑15s from 1 September 2026 and to close existing under‑15 accounts from 1 January 2027.
• Companies must install certified age‑verification systems and face fines reported up to 6 percent of global turnover if they do not comply.
• Opposition parties have announced a referral to the Constitutional Council and critics warn the law could erode online anonymity, pose privacy risks through mass identity checks, and be easy to evade with false data or VPNs.
• Supporters frame the law as a child‑protection advance and other countries and the European Commission are watching closely, so the measure could reshape EU policy and digital practices for families and platforms.