France Is Poised to Restrict Social Media for Children
Its new law, which would be the first of its kind enacted by a European country, would ban access to some accounts for anyone under 15.
France is moving toward a law that would restrict social media access for children under 15, according to a report from *The New York Times* World. If enacted, the measure would be the first of its kind in Europe.
The proposal would bar users under 15 from accessing some accounts, marking one of the most significant efforts yet by a European government to limit young teenagers’ use of social platforms. The feed summary did not specify which services or account types would be covered, or how the restriction would be enforced.
The law places France at the center of a broader debate over how governments should respond to concerns about children’s online safety, digital addiction and exposure to harmful content. Age-based restrictions on social media have been discussed in several countries, but France’s plan appears to be the first European measure aimed at directly limiting access for an entire age group.
The report is based on a monitored public feed and is attributed to *The New York Times World*, which identified the move as a potentially precedent-setting step for Europe. No further details were included in the feed summary about the law’s legislative status, timing or implementation rules.
If approved, the measure would represent a notable shift in how one major European country regulates youth access to social media, and could influence similar debates elsewhere on the continent.
This article is based on a monitored public feed and on reporting by *The New York Times World*.
Source: New York Times World - https://www.nytimes.com/2026/07/21/world/europe/france-social-media-ban.html
