France Bans Social Media (and cellphones in school) for Children Under 15 Starting September

French lawmakers voted on July 21, 2026, to prohibit social media access for children younger than 15, a first within the European Union. This legislative move aims to regulate digital exposure among minors, reflecting a structural shift in how governments address online safety and youth well-being.

President Emmanuel Macron is expected to sign the bill into law, with enforcement beginning in September 2026, managed by Arcom, France’s audiovisual and digital communications regulator. The law follows data showing French children aged 12 to 17 spend an average of 1 hour and 21 minutes daily on TikTok, and broader OECD figures indicating that at least half of 15-year-olds spend 30 hours or more per week on digital devices. Although initial proposals to ban social media advertising targeting children were dropped, the government plans to implement age verification controls. The law responds to concerns about the manipulative effects of social media algorithms on young users, as emphasized by Macron’s statement that “the brains of our children and our teenagers are not for sale.”

The French government’s next step is formalizing the legislation through Macron’s signature, aiming for enforcement to begin with the new school year.

France becomes the first EU country to ban social media for children
By Joseph Ataman, CNN