Jump to contentIndependentSwipe for next articleIndependent Bulletin homepageDownload our appAllNewsSportCultureLifestyleAnne CuthbertsonWednesday 22 July 2026 15:34 BSTMeta Platforms CEO Mark Zuckerberg arrives outside court to take the stand at trial in a key test case accusing Meta and Google's YouTube of harming kids' mental health through addictive platforms, in Los Angeles (Reuters)France has become the first European Union country to approve a blanket ban on social media for children under 15, requiring platforms to enforce age checks from January 2027.This legislation follows Australia's landmark ban for under-16s last year, which set a global precedent, with over a dozen other countries now legislating similar restrictions.The bans aim to protect children's mental health and development by limiting exposure to addictive algorithmic feeds and harmful content, such as that related to self-harm or eating disorders.Countries including Austria, Denmark, Germany, Greece, Norway, Poland, Slovenia, Spain, Indonesia, and Malaysia have either implemented or are planning similar restrictions, while the UK also announced plans for a ban.Despite legislative efforts, concerns remain about the effectiveness of these bans, as a study in Australia suggested platforms have failed to implement effective age verification, allowing underage users to circumvent the rules.In fullThe countries set to follow France in banning social media for childrenMore bulletinsThank you for registeringPlease refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in