France’s parliament has passed legislation banning social media access for children under the age of 15, effective January 2027.
The measure makes France the first country in Europe to implement a total age-based prohibition on major social platforms, requiring all users to undergo age verification to access services within the country.
The law introduces strict compliance obligations for tech companies operating in France.
Platforms will be required to implement robust age-gating mechanisms, with non-compliance likely to result in significant fines or service restrictions.
This regulatory shift adds to the growing compliance burden for global tech firms navigating divergent digital safety laws across European markets.
The move follows similar regulatory trends in other jurisdictions.