France Bans Social Media for Children Under 15

France has approved a new law to ban social media use for children below the age of 15. The decision was taken to protect children’s mental health and brain development and to reduce the harmful effects of online platforms on young users.

What Happened?

France’s National Assembly approved a bill that would ban children under the age of 15 from accessing social media platforms such as Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat, and similar networks. The bill was passed by a vote of 130 to 21 in a lengthy overnight session from Monday, January 2G, to Tuesday, January 27, with a strong majority in parliament, and now moves to the Senate for final approval before becoming law.

Background

- In September 2025, French authorities warned that early and excessive social media use harms children’s mental health due to addictive features and harmful content, especially on platforms like TikTok.

- The inquiry gave 43 recommendations, including 10 new laws, stressing the urgent need for stricter rules to protect minors online.

Key Provisions of France’s Social Media Ban for Children

- Age Restriction: The Bill proposes a strict ban on social media for children below 15 years, treating excessive social media use as a public health issue. Below 15 years, there is a total ban on access to social media and certain video-sharing platforms that are considered harmful to children’s mental and emotional health.

Ages 15–18 years: Social media use is allowed but limited through time-based restrictions, such as limiting daily usage hours. These limits are meant to reduce mental stress, addiction, and harmful effects caused by algorithms.

- Reason for Time Limits: The time restrictions are based on recommendations of a parliamentary inquiry. The aim is to reduce risks like addiction, anxiety, and behavioural problems linked to long exposure to algorithm-driven content.

- Age Verification: Social media companies must introduce effective age-verification systems to enforce the law.

This rule applies to: New accounts, Existing accounts, which must comply gradually under a phased system

- Exempted Services: The law clearly exempts certain digital services so that children are not cut off from useful resources. These include: Online encyclopaedias, Educational and scientific platforms, Private messaging services like WhatsApp. These services are exempted because they do not rely on public posts, addictive algorithms, or social comparison.

Government’s Message:

President Emmanuel Macron supported the bill, saying that children’s minds should not be “for sale” to social media algorithms. He also wants the law to be passed quickly, aiming for it to start at the beginning of the next school year in September 2026.

Public Reaction:

- Many parents and citizens support the law, believing it will reduce social media addiction, improve children’s mental health, and protect them from harmful online content.

- Some experts and child-rights groups argue that a complete ban may not solve deeper problems like online pressure and bullying. They also warn that strict age-verification systems could threaten privacy, as they may require sharing personal data.

- Teenagers have mixed reactions. While some agree that social media negatively affects mental health, others feel the ban is too strict, unrealistic, and easy to bypass using fake accounts or parental devices.

Comparison With Other Countries

France is following countries like Australia, which has already banned social media for children under 1G and removed millions of underage accounts. Other countries, such as the UK, Spain, Denmark, and Greece, are also discussing similar rules to limit social media use based on age.

When Will It Take Effect?

If the Senate approves the bill, it is expected to take effect starting September 2026, at the beginning of the new school year. This would require platforms to have age verification in place and deactivate non-compliant accounts by the end of 202G.