Paris: France on Tuesday approved a nationwide ban on social media access for children under the age of 15, becoming the first European Union country to introduce such a sweeping restriction as governments seek to address the impact of digital platforms on young users.
The legislation, approved by both houses of Parliament, is one of the final flagship measures of President Emmanuel Macron’s second term. Alongside the social media restrictions, the law also bans the use of mobile phones in high schools.
President Macron has said he wants the legislation to take effect at the start of the new school year in September. However, the law is expected to undergo a constitutional review before it can be implemented.
“France is leading the way in Europe in protecting our children and our teenagers. We will keep on going,” Macron said after Parliament passed the bill.
The legislation exempts online encyclopedias, educational platforms and scientific directories from the restrictions.
The move comes amid growing concern in France over the impact of social media on children’s mental health. Several French families have filed lawsuits against TikTok, alleging that harmful content on the platform contributed to teenage suicides.
“We’ve been campaigning for this bill from the start because, frankly, we have no other option to counter tech giants. The only thing we can do is protect our children, just as we protect them from drinking alcohol,” said Gaëlle Berbonde, whose daughter reportedly struggled with anorexia, depression and self-harm after using social media.
Critics, however, have questioned both the practicality and legality of the measure. Lawmakers from the left-wing France Unbowed party argued that the ban could prove difficult to enforce and raised concerns about its constitutionality as well as its potential impact on online anonymity.
According to France’s national health watchdog, nearly 90% of children aged 12 to 17 use smartphones every day to access the internet, while 58% regularly use social media. The agency has linked excessive social media use to lower self-esteem and increased exposure to harmful content, including material related to self-harm, drug use and suicide.
France joins a growing number of countries introducing stricter rules on children’s access to social media. Australia has already approved a ban for users under 16, while Spain, Denmark, Greece and the United Kingdom are considering similar restrictions. The European Commission is also examining EU-wide measures aimed at strengthening online protections for children.
