France's Parliament Bans Social Media for Children Under 15
A session of the French National Assembly. Photo: REUTERS/Manuel Ausloos.
On July 21, 2026, the parliament of France approved a ban on the use of social media by children under 15. The bill was supported by both chambers — the National Assembly and the Senate, Reuters reports.
Under the new rules, starting September 1, children who have not yet reached the age of 15 will be prohibited from creating accounts on social media. Platforms will be given an additional four months to identify and close existing accounts belonging to underage users.
Social media platforms will also be required to implement an age verification system approved by the French personal data protection regulator. French President Emmanuel Macron expects the law to take effect by the start of the new school year.
Deputy Minister for Artificial Intelligence Anne Le Hénanff stated that France has become the first country in Europe to establish a so-called age of digital majority. Previously, similar restrictions were introduced by Australia, where persons under 16 are prohibited from using social media.
Macron explained the necessity of the ban by the negative impact of social media on adolescents' attention, health, and safety. According to him, the authorities must help young people "become adults and, above all, citizens," and therefore access to social platforms must be restricted until the age of 15.
The Union of Orthodox Journalists previously reported that religious clinics in France will be required to perform euthanasia.
Read also
TCC detained a 52-year-old rector of three churches in the Uman Diocese
Priest Mykola Yevtushenko was taken to the TCC to verify his data and undergo a military medical commission, after which his family was denied a meeting with him.
A procession with the relics of Avvakum of Cherkasy took place in the Cherkasy Diocese
At the Lebedyn St. Nicholas Convent of the Cherkasy Diocese, Metropolitan Anthony led the liturgy and a procession with the relics of Venerable Avvakum of Cherkasy.
Bulgarian Church voices support for UOC ahead of DESS lawsuit hearing
Patriarch Daniel and hierarchs of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church sent letters to the court hearing the case seeking the dissolution of the Kyiv Metropolis, as well as to the Metropolis itself.
An AR model of a UOC monastery with a hetmans' burial vault will be created in Sumy region
The Hamaliyivka Monastery of the UOC will be recreated in augmented reality, and Orthodox churches in Hlukhiv, Poloshky, Voronizh, and other villages will be digitized.
France's Parliament Bans Social Media for Children Under 15
In France, starting September 1, children under 15 will be prohibited from creating accounts on social media, and platforms will be required to verify users' ages.
In Finland, a lightning strike set fire to the dome of an Orthodox church
Firefighters had to remove the cross from the dome to extinguish the fire.