France: Parliament bans social media for under 15s, a first in Europe

The French Parliament definitively adopted on Tuesday July 21 a bill banning social networks for those under 15, a first in Europe, which is due to come into force in September to protect the health of children and adolescents.

Following the Senate's vote in the afternoon, the National Assembly adopted the reform by 279 votes to 81. This reform, a promise made by Emmanuel Macron and a flagship measure of the end of his term, will require platforms to implement age verification systems, a topic of debate. The legislation also includes a ban on mobile phones in high schools.

Emmanuel Macron stated that the final adoption by Parliament of the ban on social networks for those under fifteen was "a major step forward".

"France is leading the way in Europe for the protection of our children, our teenagers. We will continue," said the head of state at the end of a video broadcast on social networks, retracing his fight for this measure and presenting several examples of content on platforms deemed harmful to young people.

The ban is scheduled to take effect on September 1st for new accounts. For existing accounts, the ban would apply "after a period of four months", i.e., on January 1st, 2027.

“We French will all have to prove our age for four months. If you are under 15, your account will be closed,” explained Anne Le Hénanff, the Minister Delegate for Digital Affairs, to reporters. While some members of parliament doubt the feasibility of implementing the ban so quickly, the minister insisted that it could be “operational” in time.

The text also includes a ban on cell phones in high schools, as is already the case in elementary and middle schools. Exceptions may be provided for in the school's internal regulations. Recently, there have been increasing warnings about the harmful effects of social media on children and teenagers, which capture their attention and can expose them to problematic content.

The text does not provide for any sanctions against children or parents. In practice, it will be up to the platforms to implement an age verification system, or even several simultaneously, to give users a choice.

The end of anonymity on the internet

The European Commission also presented a pan-European age verification app in April, and private solutions are also being developed.

Socialist MP Arthur Delaporte criticized the "great vagueness surrounding the age verification mechanisms" in a bill that will come into force "hastily, with risks of unintended consequences and circumvention." He added that his group will "probably" refer the matter to the Constitutional Council, regretting that the networks involved are not more clearly defined.