France has taken a significant step toward restricting children’s access to social media after lawmakers in the National Assembly approved legislation that would prohibit under-15s from using online social networking platforms.
The bill was passed following a lengthy overnight debate, with a clear majority in favour, and now heads to the Senate for further scrutiny. If approved by the upper chamber, the measure would place France among a small but growing group of countries seeking to curb children’s exposure to social media, following a similar move by Australia late last year.
President Emmanuel Macron welcomed the vote, describing it as a decisive moment in efforts to protect young people from the effects of excessive screen time. In recent remarks, he has argued that children’s emotional wellbeing should not be shaped by profit-driven digital platforms or opaque algorithms.
The proposed law would also extend restrictions on mobile phone use in schools, building on France’s earlier ban on phones in middle schools. Authorities say the measures are aimed at addressing mounting evidence linking heavy social media use to anxiety, cyberbullying and declining mental health among adolescents.
Under the current draft, access to social networking services would be formally prohibited for users under the age of 15, while educational platforms and online reference sites would be exempt. Enforcement would depend on the introduction of a robust age-verification system, an issue still being addressed at the European level.
The government hopes to apply the rules to new social media accounts from the start of the 2026 school year. Existing accounts that fail to meet the age requirement would then face deactivation later in the year, giving platforms time to adapt their systems.
Gabriel Attal, a former prime minister and a leading figure in Macron’s parliamentary bloc, said the legislation was about more than screen time alone. He argued that social media had become a powerful channel for external influence and misinformation and that France had a responsibility to act decisively to protect younger generations.
Public health authorities have supported tighter regulation, citing research that highlights the negative psychological impacts of platforms such as TikTok, Instagram, and Snapchat, particularly on teenage girls. Risks identified include online harassment, unrealistic social comparison and exposure to violent or harmful content.
However, the bill has also drawn criticism. Lawmakers from the hard-left France Unbowed party warned that a blanket ban could amount to digital overreach and oversimplify complex social issues. Several child protection organisations echoed those concerns, calling instead for stronger accountability for tech companies rather than excluding young users altogether.
Former Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne also voiced caution, suggesting that authorities should first ensure existing school-based phone bans are effectively enforced before extending restrictions further.
As the bill moves to the Senate, France’s approach is likely to be closely watched across Europe, where governments are grappling with how to balance child protection, digital freedom and the growing influence of global technology platforms.
