French lawmakers have passed a bill that would ban social media use for children under the age of 15, a move championed by President Emmanuel Macron as a way to protect minors from excessive screen time. The legislation, which also includes a ban on mobile phones in high schools, aims to curb the negative impacts of technology on child development and mental health.
The bill was adopted by the lower National Assembly with a vote of 130 to 21, following a lengthy overnight session. It will now be sent to the Senate, France’s upper house, before becoming law. Macron hailed the vote as a “major step” to protect French children and teenagers, stating that their emotions should not be “for sale or manipulated” by social media platforms.
The move makes France the second country to take such a step, following Australia’s ban on social media for under-16s in December. Authorities plan to enforce the measures from the start of the 2026 school year for new accounts, with existing accounts required to comply with the age limit by December 31. Social media platforms will be responsible for deactivating accounts that do not meet the age requirement.
The bill’s proponents argue that excessive screen time is harming child development and contributing to mental health problems, including cyberbullying and exposure to violent content. France’s public health watchdog, ANSES, has reported that social media platforms such as TikTok, Snapchat, and Instagram have detrimental effects on adolescents, particularly girls.
However, not everyone is in support of the ban. Some critics argue that it is an overly simplistic response to the complex issue of technology’s impact on children. Arnaud Saint-Martin, a member of the hard-left France Unbowed party, described the ban as “a form of digital paternalism.” Child protection associations have also urged lawmakers to hold social media platforms accountable rather than banning children from using them.
The ban on mobile phones in high schools is also a contentious issue, with former Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne expressing reservations about the measure. Macron has backed the ban, which would build on a previous ban on mobile phones in colleges for children aged 11 to 15.
The passage of the bill marks a significant step in France’s efforts to regulate social media and protect children from its potential harms. As the bill moves to the Senate, it is likely to face further debate and scrutiny. If passed, the ban would come into force on September 1, making France a pioneer in Europe in regulating social media use among minors.
