France’s lower house of parliament, the National Assembly, has approved a central provision of a proposed law that would ban children under the age of 15 from accessing social media platforms. The move, backed by President Emmanuel Macron, is aimed at protecting young people’s mental and emotional well-being from the harmful effects of excessive screen time. If the bill clears all legislative stages, it is expected to take effect from the start of the new school year in September.
Lawmakers endorsed a government-backed amendment that rewrote the bill’s first article, clearly stating that minors under 15 would be prohibited from accessing social networking services offered by online platforms. The article was passed by a decisive vote of 116 in favor and 23 against.
The proposed legislation also includes restrictions on mobile phone use in high schools and follows Australia’s recent decision to ban social media for users under 16 — a first of its kind globally. Growing global concern over children’s exposure to social media has driven such measures, as studies increasingly link excessive screen time to developmental issues and worsening mental health among minors.
President Macron has strongly defended the proposal, saying children’s emotions should not be exploited or manipulated by powerful digital platforms and algorithms. Authorities intend to implement the ban quickly, with enforcement planned from the 2026 school year for newly created accounts.
Gabriel Attal, a former prime minister and leader of Macron’s party in parliament, said he expects the Senate to approve the bill by mid-February. If that happens, the ban could come into force on September 1, with social media companies given until December 31 to deactivate existing accounts that fail to meet age requirements.
The bill excludes educational platforms such as online encyclopedias and directories. However, its success will depend on the introduction of an effective age verification system, which is currently being developed at the European level.
France has already restricted mobile phone use in middle schools since 2018, and officials see this legislation as another step toward safeguarding young users in the digital age.
