France parliament to approve social media ban for under‑15s

Paris – France’s parliament is poised to vote on a bill that would prohibit children under 15 from accessing social media platforms, with a decision expected on Tuesday after lawmakers from both the Senate and the National Assembly reached a compromise on the text on Monday. The legislation, which would make France the first European nation to impose such an age‑based restriction, requires platforms to verify users’ ages and block accounts that do not meet the threshold, while providing a six‑month transition period for compliance.

If passed, the measure will obligate social‑media companies to implement age‑verification tools and could subject non‑compliant services to fines. Supporters argue the ban aims to protect minors from online harms, whereas critics warn it may drive younger users to unregulated alternatives. The upcoming vote will determine whether France proceeds with the pioneering policy, setting a precedent for digital regulation across Europe.