France, first EU country to ban social media for minors, follows pioneer Australia

France has enacted a new law, making it the first European nation to prohibit minors under 15 from accessing social media platforms. This move mirrors similar legislation in Australia, which banned access for those under 16 in 2025.

The law, definitively approved by the French Parliament with a significant majority, is expected to take effect at the start of the school year. It specifically excludes online encyclopedias, development platforms, and open-source educational projects from the ban. Additionally, the legislation broadens the existing prohibition on mobile phone use within educational institutions, extending a restriction previously limited to primary and secondary schools.

Platforms will be responsible for implementing age verification mechanisms, a requirement inspired by Australia's stringent 2025 law. This wave of protective legislation has seen numerous countries follow suit. The UK, for instance, announced even stricter measures for 2027, including a nighttime 'curfew' for younger users.

Other European nations are also tightening controls. Slovenia and Finland announced plans in February 2026 to ban social media for those under 15. Austria's government proposed a ban for under-14s, while Portugal is considering a minimum age of 16. Spain approved a bill in March 2025 to protect minors online, raising the age for having an account from 14 to 16 and mandating parental controls on new devices. Greece plans to implement a ban for under-15s starting January 1, 2027, using a state parental control app. Andorra modified its child rights law in March 2026 to restrict access for minors under 16 deemed at risk, and Norway announced a bill in April 2026 to ban access for under-16s. Turkey and the United Arab Emirates also approved bans for under-15s earlier this year.