Six EU nations move ahead with social media age limits
Six EU nations implementing social media age restrictions independently before EU-wide rules finalize.
Event / Technology
Social Media Age Restrictions
Global movement to restrict social media access for minors, with France banning under-15 access effective September 2026 and Australia implementing similar restrictions for under-16 users.
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2026-08-15 to 2026-11-12 · UTC publication dates
Coverage begins 13 Jul, 14:52 UTC
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What happened
French parliament adopts law banning social media for under-15s
The French parliament adopted a law on Tuesday that bans social media access for children under 15 years old. The law is set to enter into force starting in September. The law does not specify which age verification methods platforms must use, nor does it impose sanctions on children or parents who violate the ban.
67% of French children aged 10-14 say they will comply with social media ban
According to the Arcom survey, 67% of children aged 10-14 say they will respect the law banning social media for under-15s. Conversely, 33% indicate they will find ways to circumvent the ban.
33% of surveyed French children plan to circumvent social media ban
The Arcom survey found that 33% of children aged 10-14 say they will find ways to circumvent the social media ban. Among those planning to bypass the law, 64% indicate they will use a false birth date, while 27% say they will ask parents for help creating an account despite the ban.
Australia bans social media access for under-16s
Australia banned access to social media for children under 16 years old, effective in December 2025. Various age verification tools have been used by platforms in Australia, though some methods can be bypassed using VPNs.
70% of surveyed French children aged 10-14 have social media accounts
According to the Arcom survey, 70% of children aged 10-14 surveyed have at least one account on a social media platform or online service such as YouTube. Among children aged 10-12 specifically, 63% have social media accounts despite platform policies prohibiting under-13 access.
Arcom survey finds 69% of 10-14 year-olds support social media ban for under-15s
A survey by Arcom, France's audiovisual and digital regulator, conducted in early June among 1,012 children aged 10-14, found that 69% of respondents consider a social media ban for under-15s to be a good idea. The survey was released on Friday, before parliament's adoption of the law.
Los Angeles court rules Instagram and YouTube liable for addictive design and teen mental health harms
A Los Angeles tribunal on March 25 judged Instagram and YouTube responsible for the addictive nature of their platforms and mental health disorders suffered by a young Californian, Kaley G. M., who has been on social networks since age 9. The court found that infinite scroll, personalized recommendations, autoplay video features, and beauty filters prevent users from setting clear limits on usage time and promote addictive dynamics.
Multiple countries considering social media restrictions for minors
Brazil, the United Kingdom, and Canada are among countries considering restrictions on social media access for minors, drawing lessons from Australia's implementation and exploring alternatives to outright bans.
France parliament votes to ban social media for users under 15 years old
On July 21, the French Parliament voted to ban social media access for users under 15 years old, with the restriction set to become effective on September 1. Social media platforms will be responsible for implementing age verification mechanisms.
Australia blocked 10 social media platforms in late 2025
In late 2025, Australia became the first country to implement social media restrictions by blocking 10 platforms. However, reporting from June 2026 found the measure largely ineffective at keeping young people off social networks, though effects may be more pronounced in preventing future generations from initially accessing these platforms.
President Macron hails social media ban as landmark child protection measure
President Emmanuel Macron said 'France is leading the way in Europe when it comes to protecting our children and teenagers' in response to the parliament's passage of the social media ban legislation. Macron posted on X that 'children's brains are not for sale. Neither to American platforms nor to Chinese networks.'
Multiple European countries considering social media restrictions for minors
Spain, Greece, Denmark, Italy, Poland, and Portugal are drafting or considering laws to restrict social media use by children. This represents a broader European trend toward regulating social media access for minors.
French parliament passes law banning social media for children under 15
Both chambers of the French parliament - the Senate and the National Assembly - passed legislation on Tuesday banning children under the age of 15 from using social media platforms such as TikTok and Snapchat. The bill passed with overwhelming support, receiving 279 votes to 81. France becomes the first European Union member state to implement such a ban.
France pursues digital sovereignty strategy independent of US and Chinese technology companies
France under President Macron has pursued a broader strategy of digital sovereignty, aiming to make Europe less dependent on American and Chinese technology companies while implementing tougher regulatory approaches to the digital economy. France and Germany recently announced plans to develop an alternative to military software supplied by US firm Palantir, and France's domestic intelligence service ended its contract with an American tech firm earlier in 2026.
European Commission president signals support for age-restricted social media platforms
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen stated 'It is clear we need age-appropriate restrictions to platforms,' indicating European Union-level support for age verification measures on social media platforms.
United Kingdom announces plans to ban social media for under-16s starting January 2027
The United Kingdom announced plans to introduce a ban on social media accounts for children under 16, with implementation set to begin in January 2027. This follows France's passage of similar legislation.
French social media ban implementation timeline set for September 2026 and January 2027
Under the new law, children under 15 will be blocked from creating new social media accounts starting September 1, 2026. Social media platforms have until January 1, 2027, to identify and close or restrict all existing accounts belonging to users under 15. The law requires platforms to implement age-verification systems approved by France's privacy regulator.
Australian social media ban enforcement challenges emerge with 70% of parents reporting children found workarounds
Australia became the first country to impose a social media ban for users under 16 at the end of 2025. However, a March 2026 poll by Australia's internet regulator found that approximately 70% of parents surveyed reported their children remained on social media platforms despite the ban, having found ways to bypass age-gating systems. Some children reportedly bypassed age gates using methods such as drawing fake moustaches.
France's public health watchdog documented social media harm to teenagers' mental health
Earlier in 2026, France's public health watchdog concluded that social media had harmful effects on teenagers' mental health, particularly affecting girls. This finding provided scientific support for the legislative ban.
French high school phone ban included in social media legislation
The legislation also bans students from having phones in high schools starting next year. This expands an existing prohibition that already prevented students from having phones in French elementary and middle schools.
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2 alternative perspectives
EU Commission outlines graduated age framework for social media access
EU Commission proposes graduated social media access based on age tiers: banned under 13, conditional 13-18, unrestricted at 18.