France’s National Assembly has voted in favour of draft legislation that would prohibit children under the age of 15 from accessing social media, reflecting mounting concern over the impact of online platforms on young people’s mental health, behaviour and well-being. Lawmakers backed the proposal by a margin of 116 votes to 23, clearing the way for the bill to move to the Senate before returning to the lower house for a final vote.
The proposed law seeks to bar under-15s not only from traditional social media platforms but also from “social networking functionalities” embedded within wider digital services. Supporters of the measure argue that these features expose minors to online bullying, unhealthy comparison, sleep deprivation and psychological stress, and that stronger safeguards are needed as digital use among children continues to grow.
Emmanuel Macron has publicly linked the rise in violence among young people to the influence of social media and has urged France to take firm action. He has repeatedly cited the example of Australia, which implemented a world-first ban in December preventing under-16s from using major platforms such as Facebook, Snapchat, TikTok and YouTube. Macron has said he wants a similar restriction in place in France by the start of the next academic year in September.
Presenting the bill to lawmakers, centrist MP Laure Miller said the legislation was meant to send a clear signal that social media is not a harmless space for children. She argued that young people are reading less, sleeping less and spending more time comparing themselves to others online, framing the proposal as a fight to protect children’s ability to think freely and develop without constant digital pressure.
The French initiative follows closely behind Australia’s move, which is now being examined by several other countries, including Britain, Denmark, Spain and Greece, as governments across Europe reassess how to regulate minors’ online access. While the European Parliament has called for minimum age thresholds at the EU level, decisions on enforcement ultimately remain with individual member states.
In France, the proposal has drawn broad political backing. Far-right lawmaker Thierry Perez described the situation as a public health emergency, questioning whether the benefits of unrestricted online expression outweigh the risks posed to children. Public opinion also appears to support tougher rules, with a 2024 Harris Interactive survey showing that nearly three-quarters of respondents favoured banning social media for under-15s.
Under the draft law, platforms would be required to implement age-verification systems that comply with European Union regulations, a provision that has raised questions about enforcement and effectiveness. Australia has already acknowledged that rolling out its own ban has been challenging, with some teenagers openly boasting online about bypassing restrictions despite the new rules.
Beyond social media, the French legislation would also extend an existing ban on smartphones in junior and middle schools to include high schools, further tightening controls on digital device use during school hours. Reactions among teenagers in Paris have been mixed, with some recognising the risks associated with social media exposure, while others argue that a blanket ban goes too far.
