Overview
- France’s National Assembly approved a measure to bar under‑15s from social networks and restrict phones in secondary schools, pending Senate backing for rollout next school year, as Denmark, the UK, Spain, Norway, New Zealand and Chile weigh similar limits.
- Australia’s restriction for under‑16s has been in force since Dec. 10, 2025, requiring age verification and monthly reports to the eSafety Commissioner, with penalties of up to A$50 million for noncompliance.
- Major platforms report steps to disconnect underage accounts and offer appeal or document‑based verification, while warning that current age‑assurance tools are error‑prone and may push youths to less regulated online spaces.
- Child‑rights advocates and educators argue prohibitions alone fall short, calling for digital literacy, robust parental controls, algorithmic transparency and curbs on manipulative design and advertising aimed at minors.
- Researchers note the evidence tying social media to a teen mental‑health ‘epidemic’ is contested, and privacy experts caution that population‑scale age checks could normalize ID scans and facial recognition.