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France moves to block social media for younger teens
French lawmakers began debating a bill on Monday that would prohibit children under 15 from accessing platforms like Snapchat, Instagram, and TikTok, aligning with global efforts to shield minors from digital harm.
Macron pushes for September rollout
President Emmanuel Macron has set a September target for the ban to take effect, coinciding with the new school year. The proposal reflects growing concerns over the mental health risks associated with social media use among adolescents.
"We cannot entrust the emotional well-being of our children to entities driven solely by profit," Macron stated last month.
How the ban would work
The legislation tasks France's media regulator with identifying platforms deemed harmful, which would be outright banned for under-15s. A secondary list of less risky sites would remain accessible but require explicit parental consent.
The bill also extends existing mobile phone restrictions-currently enforced in junior and middle schools-to senior high schools (lycées).
Political support and legal hurdles
The measure appears likely to pass, with backing from Macron's centrist alliance, the center-right Republicans, and the far-right National Rally. However, age-verification mechanisms remain unresolved; France already requires adults to prove their age for pornography access.
A 2023 attempt at a similar ban collapsed after courts ruled it violated European law. The current draft has been revised to address concerns raised by the Council of State, which reviews legislation for legal compliance.
Global momentum and domestic context
France joins a wave of countries exploring restrictions, including Denmark, Greece, Spain, and Ireland. The UK recently launched a consultation on banning social media for under-16s, while Australia has already implemented age limits.
The bill originated from a parliamentary inquiry led by deputy Laure Miller, which examined the psychological impact of TikTok and other platforms. Macron, sidelined by a hung parliament since 2024 elections, has seized on the issue as a rare opportunity to rally public support.
Initial tensions between Macron and former Prime Minister Gabriel Attal-Miller's party ally-threatened to derail the effort, but the government ultimately united behind the proposal.
Fast-track timeline
If approved by the National Assembly on Monday, the bill will advance to the Senate within a month. Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu's government is using an expedited procedure to bypass legislative gridlock, aiming to enact the law by September.
Without this fast-track process, the bill would face delays due to budget-related backlogs in parliament.
