France and the United Kingdom are accelerating efforts to restrict children’s access to social media, marking a decisive shift in how European governments approach online safety for minors.

Policymakers in both countries are advancing proposals that would impose stricter age limits, tougher verification requirements and, in some cases, outright bans on social media use for younger children, responding to mounting concern over mental health, online harm and excessive screen time.

In France, the government has moved toward legislation that would bar children under a specified age from accessing social media platforms without verified parental consent.

The initiative reflects a broader push by French authorities to hold technology companies accountable for enforcing age restrictions and to give parents greater control over their children’s digital lives.

Officials have argued that voluntary measures by platforms have proven insufficient, prompting the need for firm regulatory intervention.

The United Kingdom is pursuing a parallel path through the expansion of its online safety framework, which already places new legal obligations on technology firms to protect minors from harmful content.

British ministers have signalled support for stricter age thresholds and enhanced identity checks, alongside powers for regulators to impose significant penalties on companies that fail to comply.

The proposals build on existing efforts to strengthen child protection online while preserving access to educational and socially beneficial digital services.

Despite the momentum, questions remain over how effective social media bans or age restrictions can be in practice.

Researchers and child-development specialists note that determined users can often bypass controls, and warn that overly rigid bans may push young people toward less regulated platforms or reduce opportunities for digital literacy.

Others argue that strong enforcement, combined with parental involvement and platform responsibility, could meaningfully reduce exposure to harmful content during critical developmental years.

The debate unfolding in France and the UK reflects a wider global reassessment of the role of social media in children’s lives.

As governments seek to balance protection, personal freedom and technological innovation, the success of these measures is likely to depend on enforcement mechanisms, international coordination and the willingness of technology companies to redesign platforms with children’s safety as a central priority.