France’s Senate chamber. Photo Credit: Jacques Paquier
Multiple years and legislative twists later, France has become the first European nation to pass a law banning children under the age of 15 from using social media.
Both chambers of the French Parliament voted in favor of the relevant measure, and President Emmanuel Macron touted the passage in an X post. Though a prior iteration of the bill had proposed allowing under-15s to access social media with parental consent, the final law is said to ban the age group from using the platforms altogether.
For new accounts, the requirement is tentatively poised to go into effect (with age verifications) on September 1st; existing users are expected to be subject to the rule starting in 2027, according to BFM Tech. Per the French outlet once again, the exact list of impacted platforms is unclear.
Unsurprisingly, the law is expected to apply to social giants such as TikTok and Instagram – a reality that raises questions on the marketing and artist development sides in the music world. (An important note concerning on-demand streaming: The law is said to prohibit the use of cellphones in high schools as well.)
But as described by BFM Tech, it’s possible that YouTube and Roblox could likewise be compelled to boot under-15 users. In a press release, France’s Senate indicated that the ban would further hit “services allowing interactions, public broadcasts or participation in user communities.”
However, other evidence suggests that the implementation process isn’t set in stone. As broken down by Lyon-based Clubic, European Union pressure reportedly “stripped” the bill “of all its substance,” leaving behind “a statement of principle” lacking concrete enforcement power.
The Lawyers’ Club took the idea a step further, describing the law as “impossible to enforce in its current form.”
Impossible to enforce or not, it represents the latest in a line of social media bans for children; Australia has enacted a measure along the same lines (applying to under-16s as opposed to under-15s), and Greece is reportedly preparing to roll out similar regulations of its own at the top of 2027.
Assuming other such bans continue to materialize, they may usher in significant changes on the above-noted marketing front. That TikTok and Roblox have a number of young users isn’t a secret, nor is the industry’s embrace of on-platform promotional initiatives. Will barring minors from accessing social platforms cause these initiatives to pack less of a punch?
Perhaps. Also worth noting are the commercially prominent artists, including but not limited to Billie Eilish and Olivia Rodrigo, who reportedly started promoting their careers (and building followings, presumably among fellow Gen Z members in the main) on social media long before turning 15.
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