France Moves to Restrict Social Media for Under-15s, Citing Youth Mental Health Crisis
Paris, France – In a significant legislative move, France's National Assembly has overwhelmingly voted in favor of a bill to ban social media access for children under the age of 15, signaling a growing global concern over the detrimental impact of digital platforms on young minds. The proposed law, championed by President Emmanuel Macron, seeks to shield adolescents from cyberbullying, harmful content, and excessive screen time, aiming for implementation by the start of the next school year in September. This measure positions France to follow in the footsteps of Australia, which implemented a similar ban for under-16s, and underscores a burgeoning international movement to redefine children's online safety.
The Legislative Push for Digital Protection
The bill, which passed the National Assembly with a vote of 116 to 23, now progresses to the Senate for further consideration before a final vote in the lower house. President Macron has urged for an accelerated legislative process, emphasizing the urgency of protecting young people from what he describes as manipulative algorithms and the commercial exploitation of their emotional and cognitive development. Lawmaker Laure Miller, who sponsored the bill following a parliamentary inquiry into the psychological effects of social media, highlighted the erosion of childhood in the digital age, stating, "Our children are reading less, sleeping less, and comparing themselves to one another more."
The proposed legislation would specifically target major social media platforms like Snapchat, Instagram, and TikTok, requiring the state media regulator, Arcom, to identify and prohibit platforms deemed harmful for minors. Less harmful sites might still be accessible but would necessitate explicit parental consent. This initiative builds on previous efforts, including a 2023 attempt to impose an age limit that encountered conflicts with EU digital privacy laws. The current bill aims to comply with European Union law regarding age-verification mechanisms, though the specific technical approach for enforcement remains a critical detail to be finalized.
A Health Emergency: The Alarming Impact on Adolescent Well-being
The impetus for France's legislative action is rooted in compelling evidence and expert warnings regarding the severe mental health risks associated with excessive social media use among adolescents. A recent assessment by the French Agency for Food, Environmental and Occupational Health and Safety (ANSES), published in January 2026, concluded that social media poses significant documented negative effects on adolescents' mental health, with girls being particularly vulnerable. The report, drawing on approximately 1,000 scientific studies, pointed to issues such as cyberbullying, exposure to inappropriate content, addictive design features, and sleep disruption as major concerns.
French studies reveal a pervasive digital presence among young people: one in two teenagers spends between two and five hours daily on a smartphone, with 90% of children aged 12 to 17 using smartphones daily to access the internet, and 58% engaging with social networks. The long-term consequences highlighted include reduced self-esteem, increased susceptibility to risky behaviors (including self-harm and suicide), and a substantial contribution to rising rates of adolescent depression. Simulations have indicated that excessive social media use is associated with an additional cumulative lifetime of 590,000 depression cases and 799 suicide deaths among French adolescents. Proponents of the bill, including far-right lawmaker Thierry Perez, describe the situation as a "health emergency."
Enforcement Challenges and Global Precedents
Implementing such a ban presents considerable challenges, primarily around effective age verification. Social media companies, including Meta and YouTube, have historically faced criticism for their inability to adequately enforce age limits and have expressed concerns about the technical difficulty and privacy risks associated with robust verification systems. Australia, the first country to enact a ban for under-16s in December, acknowledged that its rollout would be complex, with reports of young people circumventing restrictions. However, initial returns showed covered platforms removed access to approximately 4.7 million Australian accounts identified as belonging to children under 16 within the first half of December.
France's proposed system would rely on platforms blocking access through EU law-compliant age-verification mechanisms, with Arcom playing a key oversight role. The debate in France is not isolated, as countries worldwide are grappling with similar issues. The United Kingdom is actively considering banning social media for under-16s, while Denmark, Spain, Greece, and Malaysia are also exploring comparable measures. The European Parliament has signaled support for a minimum digital age of 16, though member states retain the authority to set their own limits.
Beyond the Screen: Complementary Measures and Public Sentiment
In addition to the social media ban, the French legislation also proposes extending the existing ban on mobile phones in junior and middle schools to include high schools. This two-pronged approach reflects a broader strategy to reduce screen dependency and foster healthier social interactions among young people.
Public sentiment in France largely supports the proposed restrictions, with a 2024 Harris Interactive survey indicating 73% approval for a ban on social media access for under-15s. However, opinions among teenagers themselves are more divided, with some acknowledging the dangers while others view a ban as excessive. This generational divergence highlights the complex balance between protection and individual autonomy that such policies must navigate.
The legislative journey for France's social media ban continues, with the Senate's review being the next crucial step. Should it pass into law, France will join a growing number of nations actively seeking to reclaim childhood from the pervasive influence of digital platforms, setting a clear boundary in society and asserting that social media is not a harmless environment for developing minds. The world will be watching closely as France seeks to implement and enforce these ambitious new rules, hoping to safeguard the mental and emotional health of its youngest citizens.
