In a decisive move to strengthen online child safety, France’s National Assembly has passed a landmark bill seeking to ban the use of social media platforms by children under the age of 15. The legislation, backed strongly by President Emmanuel Macron, reflects growing concern over excessive screen time, digital addiction and the psychological impact of social media on young users.
The bill was approved after an intense overnight debate in the National Assembly, with 130 lawmakers voting in favour and 21 opposing the proposal. The legislation will now be sent to the Senate for consideration, where it must secure approval before it can become law.
If enacted, France will become only the second country after Australia to introduce a nationwide legal restriction on social media access for minors. The proposed law also goes beyond online platforms, including provisions to ban mobile phone use in high schools, a move aimed at reducing classroom distractions and encouraging face-to-face interaction among students.
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President Macron welcomed the vote, describing it as a crucial step in protecting children and teenagers from the unchecked influence of digital platforms. He has repeatedly warned that social media algorithms expose young minds to harmful content, unrealistic standards and manipulative advertising, often without adequate safeguards.
“Young people should not be shaped or controlled by platforms whose primary objective is engagement and profit,” Macron said earlier while advocating tighter regulation. His government has framed the bill as part of a broader effort to reclaim childhood from excessive digital exposure.
According to government officials, the proposed timeline envisages the law coming into effect from September 2026, aligned with the start of the new academic year. Initially, the restrictions will apply to new social media accounts, while existing accounts that fail to meet the age requirement will be required to shut down later in the year.
However, enforcing the law is expected to pose significant challenges. The European Commission has cautioned that implementation will depend heavily on compliance with European Union digital regulations, particularly those governing privacy, data protection and platform liability. Central to the debate is the need for robust age-verification mechanisms, without which enforcing age-based bans could prove difficult.
Without reliable systems to verify users’ ages, critics argue, children could continue accessing platforms by providing false information, undermining the intent of the law. Tech companies may also resist measures that require intrusive verification processes, citing concerns over user privacy and operational complexity.
The French government has clarified that the ban will not apply to educational platforms or online encyclopaedias, including digital reference resources widely used in schools. Officials said the aim is not to restrict access to learning or information, but to shield minors from entertainment-driven platforms that rely on targeted advertising and algorithmic amplification.
The legislation follows years of debate in France over the impact of social media on children’s mental health. Educators, paediatricians and psychologists have repeatedly warned that excessive exposure is linked to anxiety, depression, sleep disorders, body-image issues and declining attention spans among adolescents.
Supporters of the bill argue that legal backing will empower parents, giving them clearer authority to regulate their children’s online activity. They say the measure could also push technology companies to redesign platforms with stronger child-safety standards.
Opponents, however, caution that bans alone are not a complete solution. They argue that digital literacy, parental engagement and awareness programmes must accompany regulation to help young users navigate the online world safely and responsibly.
For now, the bill will undergo scrutiny in the Senate, where amendments are possible. Its final shape — and the effectiveness of its enforcement — will determine whether France sets a lasting precedent for digital regulation in Europe.
The move comes at a time when governments worldwide are grappling with how to balance technological freedom with child protection, placing growing pressure on social media companies to accept greater responsibility for the wellbeing of their youngest users.
About the author – Rehan Khan is a law student and legal journalist with a keen interest in cybercrime, digital fraud, and emerging technology laws. He writes on the intersection of law, cybersecurity, and online safety, focusing on developments that impact individuals and institutions in India.
