France moves closer to banning social media for under-15s

France’s National Assembly has approved legislation that would bar children under the age of 15 from accessing social media platforms, as the government intensifies efforts to address online bullying, youth violence and the mental health effects of digital life.

Lawmakers voted 116 to 23 in favour of the bill on January 26, sending it to the Senate for further scrutiny before a final vote in the lower house. If adopted, the law would prohibit under-15s from using social networks and social networking functions embedded within wider digital platforms.

French President Emmanuel Macron has been a vocal supporter of tighter controls on young people’s online activity, urging France to follow Australia’s lead after it introduced a world-first ban on social media use for under-16s in December. Macron has called for the ban to be implemented before the start of the next academic year in September.

The proposed French ban would require technology companies to block access for younger users through age-verification systems that comply with European Union regulations. 

According to a recent report by Reuters, the legislation also seeks to extend France’s existing ban on smartphones in junior and middle schools to include high schools. A Harris Interactive survey conducted in 2024 found that 73 percent of respondents favoured banning access for under-15s.

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