France bans social‑media for under‑15s, prompting worldwide child‑online safety push

France social media ban age verification children online protection Mexico digital regulation EU digital tool

The French Parliament approved a law on 21 July 2026 that prohibits children younger than 15 years from accessing social‑media platforms. New accounts for minors will be blocked from 1 September 2026, and existing accounts must be closed by 1 January 2027, giving platforms four months to comply. The law also requires platforms to install age‑verification systems.

EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said the union’s digital age‑verification tool is technically ready for rollout. Greece announced a similar restriction will take effect on 1 January 2027, and Norway is preparing legislation to limit social‑media access for users under 16 with a parliamentary proposal expected later in the year.

In Mexico, President Claudia Sheinbaum urged parents and tutors to protect children from excessive use of smartphones and social‑media, citing a poll that 71 % of parents support regulation of cellphone use in schools. She announced a government‑led effort to compile information and build a consensus‑based proposal to regulate digital platforms for minors.

Entities

Australian Government · Claudia Sheinbaum · European Commission · European Union · France · French Parliament · French government · Greece · Greek government · Kiryakos Michotakis · Kiryakos Mitsotakis · Kiryakos Miçotakis

Claims

What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.

[● 2 SOURCES] The European Union panel recommended restricting social media access for children under 13. www.elespectador.com · www.origo.hu
[○ 1 SOURCE] Argentina has four pending bills on social‑media restrictions for minors, two in the Chamber of Deputies and two in the Senate. sintinta.com.ar
[○ 1 SOURCE] Marina Begonja said unrestricted screen access for children is “catastrophic”. sintinta.com.ar
[○ 1 SOURCE] Australia will ban social‑media for children under 16 starting December 2025. www.origo.hu
[○ 1 SOURCE] France has prohibited social media for minors under 15, with the rule taking effect in September. www.elespectador.com
[○ 1 SOURCE] Ursula von der Leyen said “social media are not a toy”. www.elespectador.com
[● 2 SOURCES] Indonesia, United Arab Emirates, Malaysia and China have enacted bans or restrictions on social media for minors. sintinta.com.ar · www.origo.hu
[● 2 SOURCES] The French law takes effect on 1 September 2026 for new accounts and on 1 January 2027 for existing accounts belonging to under‑15s. www.deia.eus · monacolife.net
[● 6 SOURCES] The French Parliament passed a law banning social‑media access for minors under 15, approved by both parliamentary chambers on 21 July 2026. mallys.fr · www.deia.eus · monacolife.net · www.baskentgazete.com.tr · www.benguturk.com · +1 more
[● 4 SOURCES] French Parliament approved a law banning social‑media accounts for children under 15, with implementation starting 1 September 2026 for new accounts and a deadline of 1 January 2027 for existing‑age. mallys.fr · www.baskentgazete.com.tr · dailydigital.fr · www.mediabanco.com
[● 2 SOURCES] Australia, Indonesia, the United Arab Emirates, Malaysia and China have already enacted bans or restrictions on social‑media use for minors. www.baskentgazete.com.tr · sintinta.com.ar
[● 2 SOURCES] Greece plans to enforce a restriction on social‑media use for under‑15s starting 1 January 2027. www.baskentgazete.com.tr · www.benguturk.com