Legislation to Block Young Users from Social Media Platforms

France’s parliament approved a law banning social media for under-15s, making it the first European country to implement such a restriction; the law will require age verification for all social media users in France, according to the BBC.

Implementation in Two Stages

The ban will be implemented in two stages; Starting in September, under-15s will not be able to open new accounts, and age verification will be required for all new accounts. By January 2027. The rule will apply to all existing accounts, meaning everyone in France must prove they are over 15 to use social media.

Privacy and Efficacy Concerns

Concerns have been raised about the privacy implications, the effectiveness of age-verification tools, the risk of young people bypassing the restrictions, and the speed at which the ban was designed and implemented. French Digital Minister Anne Le Hénanff defended the rapid implementation by stating that age-verification tools already exist.

Social media platforms will need to use age-verification tools approved by the French privacy regulator, according to Reuters. Professor of Internet Studies at Western Australia’s Curtin University, Tama Leaver, noted that while Australia’s similar ban in December 2022 failed in its technical aims, it demonstrated that such bans can be implemented.

Leaver emphasized the importance of involving young people in the decision-making process, stating that bans should be done with them rather than to them — he also noted that France’s requirement for universal age verification may increase the chances of success, but it also raises privacy risks.

Additional concerns include the possibility of young users moving to less-regulated online spaces, reduced news consumption, and decreased political empowerment, and France is the second country to introduce such a ban, following Australia, where many under-16s continue to use social media despite the restrictions.

In March, Australia’s eSafety Commission reported that seven out of ten under-16s who had social media accounts before the ban still had some access. This highlights the challenges of enforcing such restrictions effectively.

Legislation restricting young people’s access to social media is increasing across Europe. In June, former British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer announced a ban for under-16s in the UK, to take effect in January 2027. An optional midnight curfew for UK teens aged 16 and 17 was also proposed.

Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has proposed a ‘social media delay’ for children in Europe and indicated that new legislation could be introduced in the coming months. France’s President Emmanuel Macron has welcomed the move, which he had pledged to introduce as part of the conclusion of his decade in office.

While some on the left have criticized the ban, both the French Senate and National Assembly have passed it. The government has maintained that the tools to implement the age checks are both effective and safe.