French Lawmakers Pass Bill Banning Social Media for Under-15s, Sparking Debate on Child Safety and Digital Freedom
French lawmakers have passed a landmark bill banning social media use for under-15s, positioning France as one of the most aggressive countries yet in confronting the impact of digital platforms on children. The bill, adopted by the National Assembly in an overnight session by 130 votes to 21, is strongly backed by President Emmanuel Macron, who described it as a “major step” toward protecting young people from excessive screen time and online manipulation.
If approved by the Senate, the law would prohibit minors under 15 from accessing social media platforms, introduce a ban on mobile phones in high schools, and require platforms to enforce strict age verification, with full implementation targeted for the 2026 school year.
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Supporters of the bill argue that the growing influence of social media has created serious risks for adolescents, including cyberbullying, exposure to violent content, and declining mental health.
Former prime minister Gabriel Attal, who leads Macron’s Renaissance party in parliament, framed the move as both a public health and national sovereignty issue, warning that powerful foreign platforms were shaping young minds through opaque algorithms.
French health authorities have echoed these concerns, noting that platforms like TikTok, Snapchat, and Instagram have particularly harmful effects on teenagers, especially girls, even if they are not the sole cause of mental health challenges.
However, the ban has also ignited fierce debate. Critics from across the political spectrum have questioned whether banning social media for under-15s is realistic or effective, with some describing it as digital paternalism that avoids holding tech companies fully accountable.
Several child protection groups have urged lawmakers to regulate platforms more strictly rather than exclude children entirely, while others have raised concerns about enforcement, especially given existing challenges with mobile phone bans in schools.
As France moves closer to becoming the first European country to implement such a sweeping restriction, the battle lines are drawn between child protection, digital freedom, and the future role of social media in young people’s lives.