France Becomes First EU Country to Prohibit Social Media for Under‑15s

By Euronews

Published on 21/07/2026 – 19:53 GMT+2

French members of parliament and senators are set to vote on the final compromise version of a bill that would ban social media for individuals under 15 on Tuesday.

Laure Miller, the French MP and rapporteur for the bill, said that French policymakers would prefer stricter controls on digital platforms, but noted that EU law limits their ability to do so.

“Under the current EU framework, the only option available to us is to set a minimum age through national legislation,” Miller explained, referring to the narrow opening created by last summer’s guidelines.

The compromise was adopted behind closed doors by a joint committee of MPs and senators on Monday. The far‑left party France Unbowed (LFI) voted against it, while members of the Socialist Party abstained.

Other EU member states, including Greece, Slovenia and Sweden, are also planning restrictions on social media for minors; Spain is considering a ban for children under 16, and Austria for those under 14.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen called earlier this month for a phased, gradual approach to digital platform access based on age.

Children younger than 13 would receive limited, supervised access to social media via parents, guardians or teachers, while those aged 13 and older would gain progressively more access, contingent on platforms demonstrating that their services are safe and appropriate for teenagers.

The European Commission also advocates banning screens for toddlers.

Von der Leyen added that the Commission will submit a formal proposal on the issue after the summer.

Source link