French lawmakers voted on Tuesday, July 21, 2026, on a bill that would ban children under the age of 15 from accessing social media platforms. The legislation must still pass both chambers of the French Parliament—the Senate and the National Assembly—to become law.

If approved, France would be the first country in the European Union to enact such a ban, joining a growing list of countries that have introduced similar restrictions. The government hopes the law will come into effect by the start of the new school year on September 1, 2026.

Under the draft legislation, children under 15 would be prohibited from opening new social media accounts from September 1. Platforms would then have until January 1, 2027, to close existing accounts held by children under this age.

The move follows a December report by France's health watchdog warning about the harmful effects of social media use on children, highlighting platforms such as TikTok, Instagram, and Snapchat. According to the agency, half of teenagers spend between two to five hours daily on their smartphones, with 58% using them for social media.

France's Digital Minister Anne Le Henanff stated on X, "France will become the first country in Europe to introduce a digital age limit to better protect our children online."

President Emmanuel Macron addressed teenagers in April, saying, "We left you in this jungle and it robbed you of your attention," referring to the lack of regulations on social networks. He added, "We need to slow down and help you become adults, and above all citizens."

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