In a landmark decision, both houses of the **French Parliament** have voted to block social media access for children under 15. This makes France the first European country to implement such a ban, joining a growing global trend aimed at safeguarding minors online. The new law is set to take effect on September 1, preventing users under 15 from creating new social media accounts. Enforcement for existing accounts will commence in January 2027. Additionally, the legislation extends the current ban on cell phones in elementary and middle schools to include high schools. ### Age Verification and Privacy Concerns The implementation of this ban necessitates a robust age verification system across all social media platforms. Platforms will be required to have their age verification methods approved by **France's privacy regulator**. This aspect has drawn criticism from privacy advocates, who argue that mandatory age verification for all users could lead to increased data collection and potential privacy risks. **Agnès Callamard**, Secretary General of **Amnesty International**, highlighted these concerns in a statement. She urged governments to prioritize platform design changes over blanket bans, advocating for the regulation of features like engagement-based algorithms that can expose children to harmful content. ### A Priority for President Macron **President Emmanuel Macron** has been a strong proponent of this initiative, celebrating the Parliament's vote. "I had committed to it, and now it’s been voted on: social media will be banned for those under 15 starting back-to-school," Macron stated on **X**. ### Global Context and Enforcement Challenges France's ban follows similar measures implemented in Australia, Turkey, and Indonesia. However, enforcing such bans has proven challenging. Research in Australia, where a ban launched in December, indicates that a significant percentage of teenagers continue to access social media. Other European leaders are also considering similar actions. Greece and Spain have pledged their own bans, while the **European Commission** is actively exploring a bloc-wide ban for users under 13. **President Ursula von der Leyen** emphasized the need for a set starting age for social media use, stating that an unregulated digital environment risks consigning another generation to "mental harm, addiction and misery."