Ursula von der Leyen says young people need "phased and gradual access" to social media

French lawmakers are expected to finalize a bill on Tuesday that would block children under 15 from social media, making the country the first in Europe to set such a digital age limit. The legislation, championed by President Emmanuel Macron, would be phased in: new accounts would be barred from September, with existing ones removed by January 2027. The move comes amid growing concern over platforms’ harm to adolescents. At the European Union level, where member states including France have pushed for similar restrictions, EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen recently commented that young people should gain access to social media in a step-by-step manner. Enforcement will require effective age-verification tools, with options under development. The law marks one of Macron’s last major domestic initiatives before he leaves office in 2027.