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France Pushes for EU-Wide Social Media Age Verification Rules

Minister Clara Chappaz sets a three-month deadline for an EU agreement to ban under-15s from social media or else impose unilateral French sanctions.

Overview

  • France has launched a three-month campaign to secure a binding EU agreement mandating age verification on social media platforms, targeting a ban on users under 15.
  • Minister Clara Chappaz is rallying a coalition with Spain, Greece, and Ireland to persuade the European Commission to strengthen the Digital Services Act with mandatory age checks.
  • If no EU-wide agreement is reached by the deadline, France plans to implement unilateral sanctions against non-compliant platforms, building on ARCOM’s enforcement model for adult sites.
  • The initiative is framed as a public health measure, with policymakers citing rising youth mental health issues linked to early social media exposure, including anxiety and self-harm.
  • President Macron previously advocated for stricter digital age limits, and Spain passed a law in 2024 banning under-16s from social media, reflecting broader European concerns.