France to ban under-15s from social media, nationwide age checks from 2027

France to ban under-15s from social media and enforce nationwide age checks from 2027 to protect minors and tighten online safety regulations.

France to ban under-15s from social media, nationwide age checks from 2027
Liberal TR Haber Merkezi
Publish: 22.07.2026
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France approves nationwide ban on social media for under-15s

France’s parliament approved a law to bar under-15s from social media, requiring age verification for access and rolling out the restriction in two stages: new accounts from September and all existing accounts from January 2027, the government said.

Both the Senate and National Assembly adopted the measure despite criticism from some left-wing lawmakers. President Emmanuel Macron welcomed the move, which he had pledged to introduce at the end of his decade in office.

The law mandates that social platforms use age-verification tools approved by the French privacy regulator. Digital Minister Anne Le Hénanff said the timetable was justified because such tools already exist.

Liberal News Analysis: What Does This Development Mean?

The legislation will require age checks on all accounts, applying first to new registrations in September and then to existing accounts from January 2027. Officials cited children’s mental health concerns and aligned the measure with parallel moves in the UK and EU, while critics raised privacy and enforcement questions.

France follows Australia, which imposed an under-16 ban in December but later reported widespread continued access by many children. Curtin University Professor Tama Leaver said the Australian law showed technical challenges but suggested France’s universal verification requirement may reduce bypassing, even as privacy risks rise.

Quick Glance: What You Need to Know

  • France will ban under-15s from social media, with verification required for access.
  • New accounts must verify age from September; all accounts by January 2027.
  • Platforms must use age-verification tools approved by the French privacy regulator.
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Liberal TR Haber Merkezi
Liberal TR Haber Merkezi
A digital news platform delivering developments in Türkiye and the world to its readers with an objective and principled perspective. Liberal TR Haber Merkezi.
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