France bans social media for teenagers under 15

France's National Assembly approved a bill banning social media for children under 15. The initiative passed with 116 votes in favor and 23 against. The document now moves to the Senate before final voting in the lower chamber. President Emmanuel Macron aims to implement the ban by the start of the new school year in September.

The bill prohibits access to social media and "social media functionality" embedded in broader platforms. The initiative reflects widespread public concern about social media's impact on minors, including online bullying and mental health risks. Macron previously pointed to social media as one of the factors behind youth violence and called on France to follow Australia's example, where a ban for children under 16 on Snapchat, TikTok, YouTube and other social platforms took effect in December.

The French ban will require platforms to block teenagers' access through age verification mechanisms compliant with European Union legislation.

Earlier, the European Parliament urged the EU to establish a minimum age for social media access, though implementing age restrictions remains at the discretion of member states. The legislation also extends the existing smartphone ban in primary and middle schools to high schools.

Implementing such bans faces enforcement challenges. The Australian government acknowledged that rolling out the ban proved difficult – children claiming to be under 16 flooded Australian social media with messages gloating about still being able to access platforms.

Public support for the initiative in France is strong. A 2024 Harris Interactive poll showed that 73% of the population supports banning social media access for children under 15. Teenagers in Paris remain divided – some acknowledged social media dangers, while others considered the ban excessive.