French National Assembly Approves Law Banning Social Media Access for Minors Under 15

On January 26, 2026, the French National Assembly passed a landmark article as part of a broader legislative effort to prohibit social media access for individuals under the age of 15. The vote was 116 in favor and 23 against, demonstrating strong political support from multiple parties including the government coalition, National Rally, and the Communist Party, while the left-wing Insoumis opposed the measure.

The law aims to protect adolescent health by limiting exposure to social media platforms considered detrimental to youth well-being, reflecting widespread concerns over issues like mental health impacts, cyberbullying, and disrupted sleep patterns associated with platforms such as TikTok and Instagram. President Emmanuel Macron backed the reform, emphasizing that children’s brains must not be exploited by foreign tech giants.

If the law is fully adopted, France would become the second country in the world after Australia — which banned social media access below age 16 last December — to enforce such restrictions. The legislation seeks to implement age verification mechanisms effective by January 1, 2027, covering both new and existing user accounts, with a goal to enforce the ban for new accounts starting with the 2026 school year.

Certain services such as educational social platforms and private messaging apps like WhatsApp are exempted. Amendments accompanying the law include provisions requiring social media providers to protect minors from excessive commercial pressure, though concerns about potential conflicts with EU laws were raised by some lawmakers. Debates also touched on the perceived "digital paternalism" of the law and challenges of regulation.

The bill still awaits complete passage in the National Assembly and is scheduled to be reviewed by the Senate by mid-February. The European Commission’s recent guidelines are facilitating national regulations, providing a framework for age verification and content restrictions.

This legislative move positions France as a European pioneer in regulating youth access to social media, reflecting a growing international trend towards protecting children in the digital space.