A growing number of governments worldwide have announced plans to restrict or ban social media access for children and teenagers, with Australia leading the way and France becoming the latest country to pass such a law in July 2026.
France passed legislation on July 21, 2026, banning social media access for anyone under 15, with the law potentially taking effect as soon as September 1. The French law also extends an existing cellphone ban in primary and middle schools to high schools.
Australia was the first country to implement a ban, blocking children under 16 from platforms including Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok, X, Reddit, Twitch, and Kick in December 2025. WhatsApp and YouTube Kids were excluded. Companies that fail to comply face penalties of up to $49.5 million AUD ($34.4 million USD).
Other countries at various stages of legislation include Denmark, which is set to ban social media for children under 15 with a law potentially in place by mid-2026; the UK, where Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced a ban for under-16s in June 2026, targeting platforms such as Snapchat, TikTok, YouTube, Instagram, Facebook, and X, with enforcement possible by spring 2027; and Canada, where a digital safety bill introduced in early June 2026 would ban social media for children under 16. Austria, Greece, Indonesia, Malaysia, Poland, Slovenia, Spain, and Turkey are also among the countries pursuing similar restrictions.
Governments cite cyberbullying, social media addiction, mental health issues, and exposure to predators as the primary reasons for the push. Greece’s prime minister specifically pointed to rising anxiety and sleep problems among children.
Critics, including Amnesty Tech, have argued the bans are ineffective and ignore the realities of younger generations. Concerns have also been raised about privacy implications tied to age verification methods. Despite this, most countries are pressing ahead with their proposals.
Source: TechCrunch