PARIS, France — French lawmakers have approved legislation that would ban children under the age of 15 from accessing social media platforms, marking one of Europe’s most ambitious attempts yet to curb excessive screen time and protect minors from online harm.
The National Assembly adopted the bill in a late-night session on Tuesday, with 130 lawmakers voting in favour and 21 against. The legislation now heads to the Senate for consideration before it can be enacted into law.
President Emmanuel Macron welcomed the vote, describing it as a “major step” toward safeguarding children and adolescents from the psychological and social risks associated with digital platforms.
“The emotions of our children and teenagers are not for sale or to be manipulated, either by American platforms or Chinese algorithms,” Macron said in a video message released over the weekend.
If passed by the Senate, France would become the second country after Australia to impose a nationwide ban on social media access for minors, following Canberra’s December decision to restrict access for users under 16.
Scope of the Bill
The proposed law prohibits access to online social networking services for minors under 15 and requires platforms to implement effective age-verification mechanisms. Online encyclopedias and educational platforms are exempt.
The bill also includes a ban on mobile phone use in high schools, extending France’s existing restrictions. In 2018, the country barred mobile phone use in colleges, which cater to students aged 11 to 15.
Former prime minister Gabriel Attal, now leader of Macron’s Renaissance party in the National Assembly, said lawmakers aim for the Senate to approve the bill by mid-February, allowing implementation from September 1, 2026, at the start of the next school year.
Under the proposed timeline, social media companies would have until December 31, 2026, to deactivate non-compliant existing accounts.
EU Oversight and Enforcement
While supporting France’s right to legislate on child protection, the European Commission cautioned that enforcement would ultimately fall under EU jurisdiction if the law aligns with bloc regulations.
Commission spokesperson Thomas Regnier said Brussels would be responsible for ensuring platforms deploy adequate age-verification tools, a technical challenge currently under review at the European level.
Mental Health and Digital Harm
French authorities have increasingly linked social media use to declining adolescent mental health. This month, public health watchdog ANSES warned that platforms such as TikTok, Snapchat, and Instagram pose risks to young users, particularly girls, citing cyberbullying, exposure to violent content, and addictive algorithms.
Attal framed the legislation as both a public health and sovereignty issue, arguing that foreign platforms exert undue influence over young minds.
“France can be a pioneer in Europe,” he said, adding that the measure could help protect national independence in the digital age.
