Emmanuel Macron leads French lawmakers in passing a new law to ban social media use for children under the age of 15.
Emmanuel Macron championed the passage of a new law that bans social media use for children under the age of 15, making France the first European Union country to establish a digital age limit. The legislation, which received overwhelming support from both the Senate and the National Assembly, aims to protect children from the addictive and potentially harmful effects of platforms like TikTok and Instagram. The administration announced that the law will take effect starting this September, requiring children to be at least 15 years old to open new accounts. Platforms will have until January 1, 2027, to close existing accounts held by younger children. The law also prohibits advertising that promotes social media to children and mandates that platforms implement age verification measures. The move follows warnings from health watchdogs regarding reduced self-esteem and increased exposure to content linked to self-harm. While some critics worry about the impact on free speech and educational access, the law reflects a growing global trend toward regulating digital environments for minors.