France’s parliament has approved a groundbreaking law prohibiting social media use for children under the age of 15, making it the first European Union member state to implement such a measure. President Emmanuel Macron has prioritized this legislation, pledging its implementation starting in September. The law will be rolled out in two phases: first, preventing new registrations for those under 15 from September, and then blocking access for existing under-15 users beginning in January 2027. France’s Digital Minister asserts the implementation timeline is realistic due to existing age verification tools, requiring social media users to verify their age within four months. Additionally, the law will simultaneously ban mobile phone use in schools. This decision follows a public health agency report linking platforms like TikTok, Snapchat and Instagram to negative mental health impacts on adolescents, particularly girls. Greece and Spain are also considering similar restrictions across the EU.