France

Under-15 Social Media Bans Across Europe: How the Laws Compare

In the eighteen months after Australia became the first country to ban social media for under-16s, the policy crossed the Atlantic and the English Channel. By May 2026, five European countries had either passed or actively legislated their own variants. France, Greece, Denmark and Cyprus settled on 15 as the cutoff. Turkey landed on 15 too, but with a markedly different enforcement model that has drawn criticism from civil liberties groups.

France Votes to Ban Social Media for Children Under 15

France is set to become one of the strictest countries in the world when it comes to protecting children from social media. On April 1, 2026, the French Senate approved a bill that would ban children under 15 from using social media platforms — following a similar vote in the National Assembly in January.

What the Senate Voted On

The bill introduces a two-tier system to keep minors off social media: