France’s National Assembly has passed a bill that would ban children under the age of 15 from using social media platforms, marking one of the most significant digital youth protection measures in Europe. The legislation — championed by President Emmanuel Macron and backed with broad parliamentary support — now moves to the Senate before potentially becoming law ahead of the 2026-27 school year.
What the Law Proposes
The bill, adopted by a strong majority in the lower house, stipulates that access to online social networking services will be prohibited for minors under 15 years of age. The prohibition would apply to mainstream platforms such as Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat, Facebook and others that feature social networking functions.
In addition to the age restriction, the legislation also includes provisions that would extend existing mobile phone bans to older students in high schools — building on earlier bans already in place for younger pupils.
French lawmakers have set an ambition for the ban to be enforced by September 2026, aligning the start of restrictions with the beginning of the next school year. Platforms would be expected to implement effective age verification systems and deactivate existing non-compliant accounts by the end of the year.
Motivation and Context
Supporters of the legislation describe it as a protective measure for young people’s mental health and development. President Macron framed the bill as a way to prevent social media companies from exploiting vulnerable users, asserting that “the emotions of our children and teenagers are not for sale or to be manipulated.”
France joins a small number of countries considering or adopting similar measures. In December 2025, Australia implemented a ban on social media use for under-16s, and several other European governments are watching closely as digital regulation evolves.
Next Steps
The bill must be reviewed and approved by the French Senate before it can become law. If passed, platforms will be required to prepare for age restrictions and verification by the target dates in late 2026.
Points of Debate
While the policy has broad support, critics have raised questions about practical implementation — especially around age verification and compliance with European Union digital laws. Privacy concerns and technical feasibility remain central to broader discussion.
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