France will begin banning children under 15 from using social media on September 1, President Emmanuel Macron said. He described the law as a central reform of his final presidential term and pledged to ensure that it is fully enforced.
The restrictions will be introduced in stages. Beginning September 1, 2026, platforms will be barred from registering new accounts for users under 15. In January 2027, the ban will be extended to existing accounts, which will have to be blocked.
Educational platforms and online encyclopedias will be exempt.
Digital Affairs Minister Anne Le Hénanff said France would become the first European country to establish such a digital age threshold.
Once the law takes effect, France will join more than 20 countries that already regulate minors’ access to social media.
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