PARIS, France – France is preparing sweeping new restrictions on social media use by minors, including a ban on accounts for children under 15 and a nationwide digital curfew for teenagers aged 15 to 18.
The proposed legislation, to be introduced in the National Assembly later this year, would make France the first EU country to impose a nighttime blackout on apps such as TikTok, Instagram, and Snapchat.
Under the plan, access for older teenagers would be blocked between 10:00 pm and 8:00 am in a bid to curb screen addiction and late-night scrolling.
Digital Affairs Minister Marina Ferrari defended the move as a health measure rather than punishment.
“We’re not banning phones or internet,” she said in an interview on Wednesday. “But we are saying: enough is enough. Teenagers need rest. They need space to disconnect, and they need support in doing so.”
Data from the Health Ministry shows French adolescents spend an average of 3.5 hours daily on social media, with usage peaking late at night.
Experts link the trend to sleep deprivation, anxiety, depression, and cyberbullying.
The draft law also seeks to make it illegal for under-15s to open or maintain social media accounts without parental approval.
Platforms would be required to introduce robust age verification systems — ranging from ID checks to AI-powered age estimation — or risk fines of up to €1 million (Sh139.8 million) per violation and possible suspension in France.
“Social media was never designed for children,” Ferrari argued. “Yet today, 80 per cent of 12-year-olds in France are on platforms meant for adults. That must change.”
The French government says it is working with tech companies and privacy regulators to ensure verification tools comply with data protection laws.
If approved, the law would place France at the forefront of a global debate over Big Tech’s influence on youth.
Similar discussions are under way in Australia, Germany, Spain, and the Netherlands, reflecting growing international concern about the impact of social media on mental health.
Parliamentary committees are expected to begin reviewing the Bill in late October, with heated debates anticipated in the months that follow.
