Paris, France — France is moving closer to banning social media for children under the age of 15, as lawmakers opened debate on a new bill in the National Assembly, with strong backing from President Emmanuel Macron.
The proposed law would block access for under-15s to popular platforms such as Snapchat, Instagram and TikTok, marking one of Europe’s most ambitious efforts yet to curb young people’s exposure to social media.
Macron has said he wants the ban in place by the start of the new school year in September, describing the move as essential to safeguarding children’s mental and emotional well-being.
“We cannot leave the mental and emotional health of our children in the hands of people whose sole purpose is to make money out of them,” Macron said last month.
How the Proposed Ban Would Work
Under the bill, France’s state media regulator would draw up a list of social media platforms deemed harmful to children. These platforms would be completely banned for users under 15.
A second category of platforms considered less harmful would remain accessible to young users only with explicit parental approval.
Another clause in the bill would extend France’s existing mobile phone ban to senior secondary schools (lycées). Mobile phones are already prohibited in junior and middle schools.
Political Support and Chances of Passage
The legislation is widely expected to pass, with pro-Macron parties likely to be supported by the centre-right Republicans (LR) and the far-right National Rally (RN).
The bill was originally drafted late last year by MP Laure Miller, who chaired a parliamentary inquiry into the psychological effects of TikTok and other social networks.
Macron later asked the government to prepare its own version, making the issue a centrepiece of his final year in office.
Despite earlier political tensions between Macron and former prime minister Gabriel Attal, whose party Miller belongs to, the government has now rallied behind the bill.
Fast-Track Procedure and Legal Hurdles
Macron has urged the government of Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu to use a fast-track legislative procedure to ensure the law is passed by September.
Without fast-tracking, the bill could be delayed by the legislative backlog caused by budget disputes in parliament.
The bill has already been redrafted after concerns were raised by the Council of State, which reviews draft laws to ensure they comply with French and European law.
A similar law passed in 2023 was ruled inoperable by the courts for violating European law, forcing lawmakers to revise the current proposal.
Age Verification and Enforcement
If passed, France will still need to agree on a workable age-verification system to enforce the ban.
A system is already in place that requires over-18s to verify their age before accessing online pornography, which could serve as a model.
Part of a Global Trend
France’s move follows Australia’s decision to restrict social media access for younger teenagers and reflects a broader international trend.
Several European countries, including Denmark, Greece, Spain and Ireland, are considering similar bans.
Earlier this month, the UK government launched a consultation on banning social media for under-16s.
