---
title: "France Votes to Ban Social Media for Children Under 15"
date: 2026-04-02
description: "France's Senate has approved a bill banning social media access for children under 15 — making it one of the strictest online child protection laws in Europe."
tags: ["child protection", "legislation", "France", "social media ban", "age verification", "Europe"]
categories: ["legislation"]
author: "Agiliton"
slug: "france-social-media-ban-under-15"
translationKey: "france-social-media-ban"
---

France is set to become one of the strictest countries in the world when it comes to protecting children from social media. On April 1, 2026, the French Senate approved a bill that would ban children under 15 from using social media platforms — following a similar vote in the National Assembly in January.

## What the Senate Voted On

The bill introduces a two-tier system to keep minors off social media:

1. **Platform blacklist**: France's digital regulator **Arcom** will classify and blacklist social media platforms deemed harmful to children. Platforms on the blacklist must implement age verification and prevent minors from creating or maintaining accounts.

2. **Mandatory account deletion**: Platforms will be required to delete accounts belonging to users under 15. The National Assembly version of the bill goes even further, requiring all platforms — not just blacklisted ones — to remove underage accounts.

The two chambers must now negotiate the final version through a reconciliation committee before the bill becomes law.

## Which Platforms Are Affected?

The law targets major social media platforms including **TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, Snapchat**, and others that Arcom determines pose risks to minors. Messaging apps and educational platforms are expected to be exempt.

## When Does It Take Effect?

If the reconciliation succeeds and the bill is signed into law:

- **September 2026**: Platforms must block new account registrations for under-15s
- **December 31, 2026**: All existing accounts belonging to under-15s must be deleted

Platforms that fail to comply face significant financial penalties.

## How Does It Compare to Australia?

France is following in the footsteps of Australia, which in December 2025 became the first country to enforce a blanket social media ban for users under 16. Key differences:

| | France | Australia |
|---|---|---|
| **Age limit** | Under 15 | Under 16 |
| **Approach** | Regulator blacklist + platform obligations | Blanket ban on all social media |
| **Enforcement** | Arcom (digital regulator) | eSafety Commissioner |
| **Max fines** | To be determined | AUD 49.5 million |
| **Status** | Reconciliation pending | Enforced since Dec 2025 |

## Why This Matters

France's approach is significant because it represents a European model for social media age restrictions. Unlike Australia's blanket ban, France empowers a regulator to decide which platforms are harmful — a more targeted approach that could serve as a template for other EU member states.

The debate in France has been driven by growing evidence linking social media use to mental health problems in young people, including anxiety, depression, and sleep disorders.

## What This Means for Parents

If the law passes in its current form:

- **French parents** will no longer need to rely solely on parental controls — platforms will be legally required to prevent access for under-15s
- **Parents across Europe** should watch closely, as France's approach may inspire similar legislation in other EU countries
- **Age verification** will become mandatory, meaning platforms will need to verify users' ages before granting access

## What Happens Next

The bill now enters a reconciliation phase where the Senate and National Assembly will negotiate a final unified version. The key disagreement is whether only blacklisted platforms or all social media platforms should be covered. A final vote is expected before summer 2026.

---

*This article covers developing legislation. We will update it as the reconciliation process progresses. For background on child protection laws worldwide, see our [global overview](/en/child-protection-laws-2026-global-overview/).*
