France has officially moved to restrict digital access for its youth, with lawmakers voting on Tuesday to ban children under 15 from using social media platforms. This legislative action makes France the first country within the European Union to implement a blanket ban of this nature, reflecting a broader international trend of addressing the potential dangers that digital content poses to children. The measure stands as a flagship initiative of President Emmanuel Macron’s second term and also includes a prohibition on the use of mobile phones in high schools.
The legislation is one of the final major policy efforts to be adopted under President Macron’s current administration before he leaves office next year. While the government aims for the law to take effect by the start of the new school year in September, the timeline remains subject to change. A constitutional review is expected to determine whether the bill complies with the French Constitution, a process that could potentially delay its implementation. Despite these hurdles, President Macron remains committed to the initiative, stating, "France is leading the way in Europe in protecting our children and our teenagers. We will keep on going."
The push for this law follows mounting evidence regarding the negative impacts of social media on young people. According to a report published in December by France's health watchdog, approximately 90% of children between the ages of 12 and 17 use smartphones daily to access the internet, with 58% of that demographic utilizing social media networks. The same report noted that one in two teenagers spends between two and five hours a day on their devices. The watchdog highlighted that such usage is linked to a range of harmful effects, including reduced self-esteem and increased exposure to content associated with risky behaviors, such as self-harm, drug use, and suicide.
For many families, the vote is a welcome development. Several families in France have already initiated lawsuits against TikTok, alleging that the platform's content is linked to teen suicides. Gaëlle Berbonde, a 52-year-old resident of the Paris region, has been a vocal supporter of the bill. She recounted the harrowing experience of her own daughter, who received her first smartphone in seventh grade. Despite the use of parental control apps, the family later discovered that the daughter was suffering from depression, anorexia, and was cutting herself. Berbonde, who spent a year and a half supporting her daughter through hospital care, emphasized the necessity of the law, stating, "The only thing we can do is protect our children, just as we protect our children from drinking alcohol."
However, the bill has not been without its critics. Lawmakers from the left-wing party France Unbowed opposed the measure, arguing that its constitutionality is questionable, that it would effectively end online anonymity, and that it would be impossible to enforce in practice. Ines Legendre, a legal adviser for the online protection group e-Enfance, pointed out that the law will not immediately result in an outright ban. She noted that significant logistical challenges remain, such as identifying existing accounts for those under 15, determining how to suspend them, and establishing robust age verification processes for all new accounts.
The legislation does include specific exemptions, as the ban will not cover online encyclopedias or educational and scientific directories. The French move mirrors a wave of global restrictions. In 2024, Australia became the first country to mandate that children under 16 be kept off social media, with the law making platforms like TikTok, Facebook, Snapchat, Reddit, X, and Instagram liable for fines of up to 50 million Australian dollars ($35 million) for non-compliance. In Europe, Spain’s Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez has announced plans to limit social media access for children under 16, while Denmark, Greece, and the United Kingdom are also considering similar restrictions.
At the European level, the pressure for regulation is mounting. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen recently called for limits on children's social media usage, suggesting that children under 3 should have no exposure to screens at all. She specifically identified "infinite scrolling" as an addictive trait that tech companies must address. A special EU panel has recommended forbidding access for those under 13 until companies can prove their platforms are safe, and the European Commission is expected to propose further measures for the 27 member countries in the near future.
"We'll also have to address the issue of existing accounts for those under 15. How do we identify them? How do we suspend them? And then there's the question of age verification for all new accounts that will come into effect," she said.
FILE – Three boys use their phones while sitting outside a school in Sydney, Monday, Dec. 8, 2025. Rick Rycroft/AP hide caption
