France Bans Social Media Access for Under-15s in EU First Move

France has become the first European Union country to ban children under 15 from accessing social media platforms, following a parliamentary approval of a groundbreaking law. Championed by President Emmanuel Macron as a flagship initiative of his final term, the law will be implemented in two phases: starting September, new user registrations under 15 will be blocked, and by January 2027, all existing profiles of minors on platforms like TikTok, Instagram, and Snapchat will be deleted. Additionally, smartphone use will be further restricted in French high schools.

Digital Affairs Minister Anne Le Hénanff stated the timeline is feasible due to available age verification technologies. This legislation places France at the forefront of a global social and technological experiment aimed at curbing the addictive effects of social media algorithms on youth mental health. Similar laws have been enacted or proposed in Australia, the United States, Canada, and the UK, with varying degrees of enforcement success.

The main challenge lies in technology rather than legislation. Earlier age verification methods, such as checkbox confirmations or birthdate entries, were easily bypassed. More robust attempts involving credit card verification or government databases raised privacy concerns. The current French approach relies on biometric facial scans analyzed by artificial intelligence and government-issued digital wallets, allowing users to prove they are over 15 without revealing personal details.

However, industry skepticism remains high. Critics argue that technological measures can be circumvented through VPNs or by using adult family members' identities. Moreover, requiring platforms to collect sensitive biometric data on millions raises significant privacy risks and creates attractive targets for hackers. The law’s effectiveness will depend on overcoming these technological and privacy hurdles.