France to ban social media for under‑15s from September 1

Paris – The French government announced that, beginning September 1, all social‑media platforms will be required to block access for users under the age of 15. The measure follows recent steps taken by the United Kingdom and Australia, which are also moving toward blanket bans for minors on major networking sites.

Under the new law, platforms must implement age‑verification systems and automatically deny registration to anyone who does not meet the age threshold. Companies that fail to comply could face fines of up to €200 million or 4 % of global turnover, whichever is higher. The French Ministry of Digital Affairs cited concerns over mental‑health risks, exposure to harmful content, and data privacy as the primary drivers of the policy, noting that similar safeguards are being introduced in the UK’s Online Safety Bill and Australia’s eSafety reforms.

The French ban adds to a growing international trend of tightening digital protections for children. Authorities will monitor the impact of the restriction throughout its first year, and the approach may serve as a model for other European nations considering comparable regulations.