The French parliament approved a law banning children under 15 from using social media, including TikTok, making the country the first in the European Union to adopt such a measure. The initiative had long been championed by President Emmanuel Macron, who called it a key reform of his second term and promised to ensure its implementation by September.

The National Assembly passed the bill by 279 votes to 81 after the Senate approved it earlier on Tuesday. Macron stated that France is setting an example for other European countries in protecting children online and thanked members for their support. The document now must be reviewed by the Constitutional Council.

The law is being implemented in two stages: starting September 1, children under 15 will be prohibited from creating new social media accounts, and starting in January 2027, the restriction will also apply to existing profiles. As Digital Minister Anne Le Henantff explained, the established timeframes are realistic, as age verification tools already exist, and the responsibility for compliance lies with the platforms themselves. According to her, during the transition period, users in France will be required to verify their age, and if minors under 15 are identified, their accounts will be closed. The minister also assured that users' personal data will be protected.

Enforcing the ban by September will also allow another law—a ban on mobile phone use in high schools—to be implemented simultaneously with the start of the new school year.

Previously, the French health authority noted that platforms such as TikTok, Snapchat, and Instagram (banned in Russia) have a negative impact on adolescents, especially girls, although this is not the only reason for the deterioration of their mental health.

The issue of restricting children's access to social media is also being discussed at the European Commission level; France, Greece, and Spain have previously advocated this. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen previously stated that children's access to social media should be gradual. The EU has already begun testing an age verification app in several countries, including France.

In total, similar measures are at various stages of development or have already been adopted in approximately 20 countries. Australia became the first country to require major platforms—TikTok, YouTube, Snapchat, and others—to delete the accounts of users under 16 in December of last year.