PARIS, France: French lawmakers are scheduled to vote on Tuesday on a bill to ban social media use among children under 15, making France one of 20 countries worldwide to have proposed or introduced such measures.
Five of those countries already have restrictions in force.
Here are key facts about the measures being introduced in different countries.
Restrictions in Place
Social media has been banned for children under 16 in Australia since December 2025.
Brazil introduced a law in March requiring platforms to link the accounts of users under 16 to those of their parents. The law also requires platforms to verify users’ ages.
In China, where the internet is tightly regulated by the state, minors’ access to social media has been progressively restricted since 2019.
Initial measures imposed time limits and curfews on online gaming before similar restrictions were extended to social media and streaming platforms in 2023.
Indonesia has banned social media use among children under 16 since March.
Malaysia has adopted a similar approach, with legislation that came into force in June excluding children under 16 from major platforms.
Restrictions Announced
Turkey is set to join the list after passing legislation in April to prohibit children under 15 from using social media. The law is expected to take effect in late 2026.
The United Arab Emirates announced a ban on social media use among children under 15 last month, with implementation expected in approximately one year.
Across the 27-member European Union, the European Commission plans to propose measures later this year that would introduce a complete ban for children under 13 and phased access for those aged between 13 and 18.
Within the bloc, the Greek government announced in early April that it intends to ban social media access for children under 15 from January 1, 2027.
ALSO READ: France Moves to Ban Social Media for Children Under 15 Before September School Year
Austria and Slovenia are also preparing legislation to prohibit access for children under 14 and under 15, respectively.
In Germany, where Chancellor Friedrich Merz supports restricting or even banning social media use among children, an expert commission has proposed two options: restrictions based on age or measures targeting specific platforms.
A similar debate is underway in Sweden, where a government commission has proposed banning social media use among children under 15 by early 2028.
In Denmark, the government announced in October 2025 that it would propose banning children under 15 from using several social media platforms.
The Irish government has warned that it may introduce its own legislation if no decision is reached at the European Union level.
Outside the European Union, the Norwegian government plans to present a bill by the end of the year to ban social media access for children under 16.
The United Kingdom is considering banning social media use among children under 16 by early 2027 under previously announced proposals.
Canada also wants to establish 16 as the minimum age for social media use.
Several states in India are considering restrictions for children, while the national government has said that it is holding discussions with social media platforms about possible measures.
Bills Before Parliament
A proposal to ban social media use among children under 15 is due to be voted on by the French parliament on Tuesday after deputies and senators reached a compromise agreement.
The lower house approved the bill at its first reading in January, but the Senate later amended it to target only the platforms considered most harmful, prompting concern in Brussels.
The government hopes the legislation can come into force in September. Digital Minister Anne Le Henanff said it would make France the first European country to establish a “digital legal age”.
Portugal is considering a bill that would set the minimum age for independent access to online platforms, services, games and applications at 16.
Spain has proposed raising the minimum age for registering on a social media platform from 14 to 16.
In Italy, parliament is considering legislation that would ban social media use among children under 15.
