The French parliament approved a law on July 21 banning the use of social networks by children under the age of 15, according to Le Monde. France becomes the first country in the European Union to introduce such a restriction.

The law was passed by both chambers of parliament: 243 votes in favor in the Senate and 279 in the National Assembly.

French President Emmanuel Macron, who actively promoted the initiative, welcomed the decision. "This is an important step forward. When it comes to protecting our children and adolescents, France is leading the way in Europe. We will continue to move forward," he said in a video message after the law was adopted.

The changes will be implemented gradually. From September 1, 2026, children under 15 will be prohibited from creating accounts on social networks. By January 1, 2027, platforms must delete existing profiles belonging to users under 15. To verify age, platforms must use tools approved by the French data protection regulator, Reuters clarifies.

Le Monde notes that the law does not list specific social networks, but the restrictions are likely to cover TikTok, Instagram, and Snapchat. The document also mentions several exceptions, such as "online encyclopedias" or "educational and scientific references."

Source: www.gazeta.uz