France Moves to Ban Social Media for Users Under 15

Thu Jan 29 2026 15:16:18 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

The French National Assembly has initiated legislation to restrict access to social media platforms for children under 15, aiming to combat mental health issues linked to online use.

France's National Assembly has taken a significant first step towards enacting a law that would prohibit social media access for individuals under the age of 15. Spearheaded by President Emmanuel Macron, the bill aims to address growing concerns over the detrimental effects of social media on youth mental health. If passed, platforms such as Snapchat, Instagram, and TikTok would be barred for young teens, reflecting global trends towards regulating social networks for minors.

France's National Assembly has taken a first step towards banning social media access for under-15s, a proposal backed by President Emmanuel Macron.

Lawmakers in the lower house on Monday agreed key elements of the bill, and are now expected to vote on the full text. The bill still needs to be approved by the upper house, the Senate.

If the legislation is passed, young teenagers would not be able to use networks such as Snapchat, Instagram, and TikTok.

The French move is part of a worldwide trend towards restricting social networks for children, triggered by growing evidence of the damage they can cause to mental health. A similar law was passed in Australia late last year.

With this law we will set down a clear limit in society, said Laure Miller, a lawmaker behind the bill, as quoted by Le Monde.

We are saying something very simple: social networks are not harmless, she added.

Macron has said he wants the ban in place by the start of the school year in September.

Under the new text, the state media regulator would draw up a list of social media networks that are deemed harmful. These would be simply banned for under 15-year-olds.

The bill is believed to have a good chance of passing, with pro-Macron parties likely to be joined by the centre-right Republicans (LR) as well as the populist right-wing National Rally (RN).

If the law is passed, France will need to agree on the mechanism for age verification. A system is already in place that requires over 18 year-olds to prove their age when accessing online pornography.

In Europe, Denmark, Greece, Spain, and Ireland are also considering similar measures. The UK government has also launched a consultation on banning social media for under 16s.

This legislative effort reflects growing concerns about the impact of social media on youth well-being, aiming to protect children from potential harms associated with online engagement.