French Lawmakers Vote on Social Media Ban for Children Under 15
French lawmakers are voting on a crucial piece of legislation that aims to ban social media access for children under the age of 15. The proposed law places France among a growing number of countries considering strict digital age limits, a move that is largely unpopular with teenagers but heavily supported by parents and educators concerned about online safety.
If adopted, France would follow in the footsteps of Australia, which recently implemented the world's first nationwide social media ban for users under 16 across major platforms like Facebook, Snapchat, TikTok, and YouTube.
Protecting the Next Generation
President Emmanuel Macron has been a vocal proponent of the legislation. Earlier this year, he urged young people to switch off their phones and focus on reading to become better citizens. Macron is pushing for the law to be firmly in place in time for the start of the next academic year.
"We left you in this jungle and it robbed you of your attention," Macron told teenagers at a high school, highlighting the current lack of rules on social media. "We need to slow down and help you become adults, and above all citizens. That's why what we want to do is say that before 15 years old, no more social media."
How the Ban Would Work
The draft legislation, which senators and deputies agreed upon at the committee level, outlines a clear timeline for implementation:
September 1: Children younger than 15 would be legally barred from opening any new social media accounts.
Account Closures: Social media platforms would be given an additional four months to identify and close any existing accounts belonging to users under the age threshold.
To enforce this, the law requires social media platforms to establish robust age verification systems that must be explicitly approved by the French privacy regulator. Notably, the ban targets traditional social networks; online encyclopedias and educational websites would remain fully available to children and teenagers.
The Global Push for Digital Regulation
While social media platforms generally oppose blanket bans—arguing they already have age restrictions and safety measures in place—they have pledged to comply where governments legally enact these restrictions.
The movement to regulate youth social media access is gaining momentum globally as awareness of the associated risks grows. The European Commission is currently working on its own broader regulations to rein in the business models of social media companies and protect young users. Ultimately, the Commission will have a say on whether France's proposed bill respects existing European legislation.
As the parliament heads to a vote, the outcome could set a powerful precedent for digital regulation and child safety across Europe and the rest of the world.