By Oluwakemi Kindness
French lawmakers on Tuesday approved a bill that would ban children under 15 from using social media, a move strongly backed by President Emmanuel Macron to limit screen time and protect young people’s mental health.
The National Assembly passed the bill during an overnight session from Monday into Tuesday, with 130 lawmakers voting in favour and 21 against. The legislation now heads to the Senate for consideration.
Macron hailed the vote as a “major step,” saying children’s emotions should not be manipulated by powerful digital platforms.
Second After Australia
If enacted, France would become the second country to impose such a ban, following Australia’s restriction on social media use for under-16s. The bill also proposes a ban on mobile phones in high schools.
Authorities plan to begin enforcement from the 2026 school year. New underage accounts would be blocked, while existing accounts would have until December 31, 2026, to comply.
Mental Health and Security Concerns
The move follows warnings from France’s public health agency that platforms such as TikTok, Snapchat, and Instagram pose risks to adolescents, including cyberbullying and exposure to harmful content.
Supporters say the measure will also help limit foreign influence through digital platforms.
Debate Over the Ban
Critics have described the proposal as overly simplistic and difficult to enforce, while child protection groups argue social media companies should be more strictly regulated rather than banning children outright.
France already banned mobile phone use in middle schools in 2018.
