France’s parliament has passed a landmark bill barring children under the age of 15 from using social media platforms. The France social media ban for under-15s also prohibits students from using mobile phones in schools.
Lawmakers in both chambers of France’s parliament voted on Tuesday in support of the legislation. The measure makes France the first country in the European Union to approve a blanket ban on social media for young children, as concerns grow worldwide over the harmful effects of digital content on kids.
Macron Calls the Vote “a Major Step Forward”
President Emmanuel Macron, who championed the ban as a signature initiative of his second term, called parliament’s approval a major step forward. “France is leading the way in Europe when it comes to protecting our children and teenagers,” he said.
Macron has pushed for the ban to take effect by September, ahead of the new school year. However, a review to determine whether the law complies with the French constitution could delay its implementation. “The Constitutional Council must now rule on it, and then it will be time to take action to make this measure a reality and protect our children online,” Macron said in a video posted on social media.
How the Ban Will Work
A growing number of countries are taking steps to restrict children’s access to social media amid mounting warnings over its harmful effects. France’s public health watchdog said last year that platforms such as TikTok, Snapchat and Instagram were harmful to adolescents, particularly girls, though it noted this was not the sole factor behind their declining mental health. Several French families have sued TikTok over teen suicides they say are linked to harmful content on the platform.
The ban is expected to roll out in two stages. Children under 15 will be blocked from creating new accounts starting September 1, with the restriction extending to existing accounts from January 2027, according to the legislation.
“If someone is under 15, the account will be closed,” said Digital Minister Anne Le Henanff, adding that users’ personal data would be protected throughout the process. The ban will not cover access to online encyclopaedias or educational and scientific directories.
Opposition and Support
Lawmakers from the left-wing France Unbowed party opposed the bill, arguing that its constitutionality remains unclear, that it would effectively end online anonymity, and that it would be impossible to enforce in practice.
Children’s advocates and parents, however, largely applauded the vote. “We’ve been campaigning for this bill from the start because, frankly, we have no other option, no other way to counter tech giants,” said Gaelle Berbonde, a 52-year-old resident of the Paris region. “The only thing we can do is protect our children, just as we protect our children from drinking alcohol.”
