Australia enacts social media ban for users under 16
Australia bans social media for under-16s, joining multiple countries implementing age-based platform restrictions.
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
Mobile phone banned in French high schools starting fall 2026
As part of the same legislative package, the French Parliament adopted a ban on mobile phone use in high schools (lycées), mirroring existing restrictions in primary and secondary schools. Exceptions may be provided through individual school regulations. The ban takes effect at the start of the 2026 school year.
Concerns raised about rapid implementation of French social media ban
Ecologist Senator Mathilde Ollivier questioned whether age verification systems could realistically become operational within weeks, calling the law performative. Parliamentarians raised concerns about potential circumvention methods and displacement to less-regulated platforms. Deputies debated whether the law addresses underlying algorithmic and economic incentive structures of platforms, which remain under European regulatory purview.
European Commission proposes graduated age access to social media
The European Commission announced its intention to establish a progressive and graduated access system for minors to social media platforms. An expert committee recommended prohibition for under-13s, but EU member states would retain freedom to set higher age limits. The French legislation is expected to align with future European regulatory framework.
French government hails social media ban as major advancement
President Emmanuel Macron immediately praised the legislation as a major advancement, stating that France is opening the way for other European countries considering similar regulations. The ban is presented as a flagship policy achievement for the end of his administration.
French Education Minister defends social media and phone restrictions
Education Minister Édouard Geffray stated that the restrictions are necessary because young people face harmful overexposure to screens affecting social relationships, mental health, and cognitive faculties. He noted that 28% of high schools already implement phone bans with notable positive effects on school climate. Geffray emphasized that education involves teaching responsible tool use before giving children access, and that restrictions must be accompanied by offering new opportunities for cultural and sporting socialization.
French Parliament bans social media for under-15s in first European legislation
The French Parliament adopted legislation on July 21, 2026, prohibiting access to social media platforms for users under 15 years old. The Senate approved the bill 243-2, followed by the National Assembly with 279-81 vote. The ban takes effect September 1, 2026 for new accounts, and January 1, 2027 for existing accounts after a four-month verification period. This represents the first comprehensive social media age restriction law in Europe.
French platforms must implement age verification for social media
Social media platforms will be required to implement age verification mechanisms to enforce the under-15 ban. No penalties are imposed on children or parents; responsibility falls entirely on platforms. Multiple verification tools are available, including France Identité, La Poste's Docaposte, and EU-developed solutions. YouTube and WhatsApp must verify age for social features (channels, comments) but not for basic video viewing or personal messaging.
Opposition parties challenge social media ban in French Constitutional Council
The Socialist Party and France Unbowed (Insoumis) announced they will petition the French Constitutional Council to review the law, citing concerns about privacy rights and minors' freedom of information and expression. Senators initially preferred a targeted blacklist approach before abandoning it due to potential conflicts with European law.
Left-wing party opposes social media ban citing constitutional concerns
Lawmakers from the left-wing party France Unbowed opposed the social media ban bill, arguing that its constitutionality is unclear, that it would effectively end online anonymity, and that it would be impossible to enforce.
French Parliament votes to ban social media for children under 15
Both chambers of the French Parliament voted in favor of a bill banning children under 15 from using social media. The measure was a flagship initiative of French President Emmanuel Macron's second term. France became the first country in the European Union to approve a blanket ban on social media platforms for this age group.
French government targets law implementation for September school year
French President Emmanuel Macron wants the social media ban law to take effect at the start of the new school year in September 2026. However, a constitutional review is likely to take place which could delay implementation.
French families have sued TikTok over teen suicides linked to harmful content
Multiple families in France have filed lawsuits against TikTok, alleging that harmful content on the platform contributed to teen suicides.
France's health watchdog reports high social media use among teenagers
France's health watchdog reported that one in two teenagers spends between two and five hours daily on a smartphone. Approximately 90% of children between 12 and 17 use smartphones daily to access the internet, with 58% using their devices for social networks. The watchdog highlighted harmful effects including reduced self-esteem and increased exposure to content associated with self-harm, drug use, and suicide.
EU Digital Services Act overlaps with French social media ban legislation
The European Commission found that the latest version of the French social media ban bill overlapped with the EU's Digital Services Act, which sets strict rules for keeping internet users safe online. Final negotiations were held on Monday, resulting in an amended version of the legislation.
French bill also bans mobile phone use in high schools
The legislation passed by French Parliament includes a provision banning the use of mobile phones in high schools as part of broader efforts to reduce digital device usage among children.
Expert committee proposes conditional access for teenagers 13-18 to social media
The EU expert committee recommended allowing access for ages 13-18 exclusively to platforms that implement effective age verification systems and demonstrate they are safe by design, such as by removing addictive features like unlimited personalized content feeds.
Expert committee recommends ban on social media access for children under 13
An EU expert committee chaired by French epidemiologist Maria Melchior and German academic Jörg Fegert recommended prohibiting access to social media and online services for children under 13 years old across the EU, with limited exceptions for periods under parental or educational supervision.
Expert committee proposes digital age of majority at 18 years
The EU expert committee recommended establishing 18 years as the age of complete digital maturity, granting full autonomy for social media access but requiring age verification to access adult content such as pornographic sites.
EU Commission proposes graduated age-based access to social media platforms
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced that the EU is considering implementing graduated and progressive access to social media and online platforms for children of different age groups, with formal proposals to follow after summer 2026.
Estonia opposes EU-wide social media bans for minors
Estonia has expressed opposition to implementing EU-wide bans on social media access for minors, while other EU member states have not yet taken a position on the proposals.
Read the coverage
2 alternative perspectives
Two-thirds of French youth say they'll comply with social media ban
Two-thirds of French youth support and plan to comply with the under-15 social media ban, though one-third intends to circumvent it.
Australia and France advance global age restriction momentum
France bans under-15s from social media; Australia blocks platforms; global age-restriction trend accelerates.
France pursues independent digital sovereignty strategy from US, China
France pursues digital sovereignty to reduce US and Chinese technology dependence as geopolitical strategy.
UK joins European push for social media age restrictions
UK bans social media for under-16s from January 2027, accelerating Europe-wide age restriction rollout.
France sets phased social media ban for under-15s with September 2026 rollout
France phases social media ban for under-15s from September 2026 to January 2027, plus high school phone restrictions.
EU Commission formalizes tiered age framework for social media access
EU Commission formally proposes graduated social media access framework banning under-13s entirely.
France faces constitutional challenge to under-15 social media ban
France's under-15 social media ban faces constitutional challenge despite government support.
EU Digital Services Act clashes with France's social media ban rules
France's under-15 social media ban conflicts with EU Digital Services Act standards, creating competing regulatory requirements.
French families sue TikTok over teen suicides linked to harmful content
French families sue TikTok over teen suicides tied to harmful platform content.
France bans social media for under-15s, mobile phones in schools
France bans social media for under-15s and phones in high schools, implementing September.
EU Commission targets addictive design in Instagram and Facebook overhaul
EU Commission orders Meta to remove addictive design elements from Instagram and Facebook interfaces.