The law, which also includes a mobile phone ban in French high schools, is expected to come into effect before the French school year starts on September 1.
"France is leading the way. France will be the first country in Europe to introduce a digital age of consent to better protect our children online," writes Anne Le Hénanff, Minister of Digitalisation, on X.
Macron's heart issue
In January, the French agency Anses, which carries out risk assessments, published an alarming report on the harmful effects of social media on young people, especially girls.
President Emmanuel Macron has personally engaged with the issue and asked his government to speed up the procedure so that the bill can be pushed through as quickly as possible.
"We must protect our children and our young people. From the start of school, no new accounts will be created for children under 15," Macron said in an interview on TF1 last month.
The law could be Macron's last major reform as president of France.
Existing accounts will be closed
The new law means that platforms like TikTok, Snapchat, Instagram and Facebook are forced to verify users' ages and stop young people under 15 from using their services.
For existing accounts, the ban will apply after a four-month period, i.e. from January 1, 2027. During this period, accounts belonging to younger users will be closed.
The issue of age limits on social media is being discussed in several countries. Last year, Australia introduced a 16-year age limit on ten different platforms, including Instagram, TikTok and Snapchat. Similar measures are being introduced in the UK, Greece, Spain and Denmark, among others. The issue is also being investigated in Sweden.
