World
France bans social media for under-15s, a first in Europe
On July 21, 2026, France's parliament passed a law banning social media access for children under 15, making France the first European country to take such action. The National Assembly approved the measure 279 to 81, following the Senate's approval that same morning. The ban takes effect in two phases: from September 1, 2026, platforms cannot create new accounts for users under 15; existing accounts must be closed by January 2027. Before enforcement, the Constitutional Council must rule on the text's constitutionality.