France Parliament Passes Bill Banning Children Under 15 from Social Media Platforms

The French National Assembly has approved legislation to prohibit children under 15 years old from using social media platforms, reflecting heightened concerns about online bullying and mental health risks among minors. The proposed bill targets both the primary use of social networks and embedded functionalities within broader platforms. With a vote of 116 in favor and only 23 against, the measure now awaits consideration by the Senate before being put to a final vote in the lower house.

French President Emmanuel Macron has cited social media as one factor contributing to violence among young people. He has called for France to emulate Australia’s world-first ban on social media platforms such as Facebook, Snapchat, TikTok, and YouTube for under-16s, which took effect in December 2023. The French president is eager to implement the restriction by September, aligning with the start of the new academic year.

Centrist lawmaker Laure Miller presented the bill, asserting that the legislation sets a clear boundary against harmful social media use: “Social media is not harmless,” she said. She further explained, “Our children are reading less, sleeping less, and comparing themselves to one another more, which is detrimental to their mental well-being.”

President Macron’s stance has garnered broad political and public support in France for curbing minors’ access to social media. Far-right lawmaker Thierry Perez emphasized the severity of this issue by stating, “Social media allows everyone to express themselves, but at what cost to our children?”

The French ban would require platforms to block under-15s through age-verification mechanisms compliant with European Union laws. Although enforcement can be challenging, Australia’s rollout of its social media ban for under-16s faced difficulties when children claimed to be below 16 used the platform.

Additionally, the legislation extends an existing smartphone ban in junior and middle schools to high school levels. A Harris Interactive survey conducted in 2024 revealed that 73% of French citizens supported a social media access ban for minors under 15 years old. Teenagers in Paris have mixed opinions on this measure: some acknowledge the dangers associated with social media, while others feel that such restrictions are excessive.