France has become the first European country to approve a nationwide ban on social media for children under the age of 15, following Australia’s landmark legislation that made it the first country in the world to adopt similar restrictions.
The measure, approved by French lawmakers on Tuesday, requires social media platforms to verify users’ ages and prevent children under 15 from accessing their services without parental consent. Companies that fail to comply could face significant financial penalties.
The legislation is part of France’s efforts to strengthen online child protection amid growing concerns over the impact of social media on children’s mental health, exposure to harmful content, cyberbullying and online addiction.
France’s move follows Australia’s decision in 2024 to pass a law banning children under 16 from using social media, making it the first country globally to introduce such legislation. French lawmakers say their proposal is designed to provide stronger safeguards for young people while holding technology companies more accountable.
Supporters argue that tighter regulation is necessary to protect children in an increasingly digital world. Critics, however, have questioned how the ban will be enforced, particularly the use of age verification systems, and have raised concerns about privacy and access to online educational resources.
The French law is expected to undergo the remaining implementation steps before coming into force, with the government set to establish the technical requirements for age verification and enforcement.
The development is likely to reignite debate in Africa, where internet and smartphone use among children continues to rise. While no African country has introduced a comparable nationwide social media ban for children, governments across the continent are under increasing pressure to strengthen online child protection through regulation, digital literacy and parental safeguards.
