French parliament backs social media ban for children under 15

French parliament approved a ban on social media access for children under 15.

France is the first European country to follow Australia's under-16 ban on platforms like Facebook, Snapchat, TikTok, and YouTube.

The law will prohibit children under 15 from opening social media accounts from September 1, 2026.

Social media platforms must use age verification approved by the French privacy regulator and close existing underage accounts within four months.

President Emmanuel Macron supported the law, citing the need to protect young people's attention and development.