France Votes to Ban Social Media for Children Under 15

Historic Vote Sets Stage for European Social Media Crackdown

In a landmark decision that could reshape digital childhood across Europe, the French National Assembly has voted overwhelmingly to ban social media access for children under 15 years old. The legislation, passed with 116 votes in favor and just 23 against, represents one of the most aggressive government interventions into youth digital life in the Western world.

The bill, championed by centrist MP Laure Miller of President Emmanuel Macron's Renaissance party, now moves to the French Senate for final approval in mid-February. If passed as expected, the ban would take effect at the start of the next school year in September 2026.

Protecting Young Minds from Digital Harm

During the emotional parliamentary debate, Miller invoked the names of young girls who had taken their own lives after being influenced by social media content. 'Our children read less, move less, sleep less, and constantly compare themselves to others,' she told the assembly, highlighting what she called the 'clear and simple truth: social networks are harmful.'

President Macron has thrown his full weight behind the legislation, declaring in a recent video statement: 'The emotions of our children and teens are not for sale and must not be manipulated, neither by American platforms nor by Chinese algorithms.'

The French Ministry of Education has identified age 15 as a critical threshold, coinciding with the transition from middle school (collège) to high school (lycée). The legislation would also extend existing smartphone bans in junior schools to all high schools nationwide.

Global Trend Toward Digital Protection

France follows Australia, which implemented a similar ban for children under 16 in December 2025. Australian authorities have already removed nearly 5 million social media accounts belonging to underage users, with platforms like Instagram, Facebook, TikTok and Snapchat facing multi-million dollar fines for non-compliance.

The movement is gaining momentum across Europe. Denmark has announced plans to implement a ban for children under 15 this year, while Norway, Greece, the United Kingdom, and Malaysia are all considering similar measures. The European Commission is also examining potential EU-wide regulations.

In the Netherlands, the government advised last year against social media use for children under 15 and recommended delaying smartphone ownership until secondary school, though no binding legislation has yet been introduced.

Implementation Challenges and Criticisms

Despite broad political support, significant questions remain about enforcement. The left-wing party La France Insoumise has expressed skepticism about the ban's feasibility, noting that tech-savvy teenagers could easily circumvent age restrictions.

French correspondent Saskia Houttuin observed: 'While the first hurdle of passing legislation will likely be cleared, the bigger question is how such a ban can be enforced. How can we prevent young people from bypassing age limits? And to what extent can France compel cooperation from social media companies?'

The legislation doesn't specify which platforms would be banned but would require social media companies to implement robust age verification systems. Methods under consideration include ID verification similar to those used for adult websites or AI-based age estimation technology.

Research Backs Growing Concerns

The move comes amid mounting scientific evidence about social media's impact on developing brains. According to Wikipedia's research summary, excessive social media use has been linked to reduced gray matter in brain regions responsible for attention and impulse control. Studies consistently show correlations between heavy social media use and increased rates of anxiety, depression, sleep disorders, and eating disorders among adolescents.

As France positions itself at the forefront of digital child protection, the world watches to see whether this bold experiment in digital regulation will succeed in creating healthier childhoods or face insurmountable implementation challenges in our increasingly connected world.