France has taken a bold step to protect minors online, passing a law on July 21 that requires mandatory age verification for social media accounts for users under 15. But as Australia’s pioneering ban shows, enforcement may be the real challenge. Data from Australia, which banned under-16s from platforms like TikTok, Instagram, and Snapchat in late 2025, reveals that a staggering 85% of surveyed teens continue to access these services. Using VPNs to mask their location, claiming false birth dates, logging into accounts set up by older relatives, or even generating AI-created photos of adults to fool verification systems, Australian teens have found multiple workarounds. French lawmakers hope biometric checks and ID requirements will close loopholes, but experts warn that similar evasion is likely. The law’s success hinges on whether platforms can implement foolproof age checks without infringing on privacy. As France prepares to enforce its ban, the Australian experience serves as a cautionary tale.
Article and image source: ladepeche.fr
