EUROPE - The lower house of the French Parliament has voted in favor of legislation that would ban children under the age of 15 from accessing social media platforms, citing growing concerns over online bullying, mental health risks, and the impact of digital platforms on minors.
The bill was approved late Monday night by the National Assembly with 130 votes in favor and 21 against. It will now move to the Senate for review before returning to the lower chamber for a final vote.
If adopted, the government aims to enforce the ban ahead of the next academic year, starting in September.
President Emmanuel Macron welcomed the vote, describing it as a “major step” toward protecting children and teenagers.
In a video message released over the weekend, Macron said social media had contributed to rising violence among young people and warned against the influence of foreign-owned digital platforms. “The emotions of our children and teenagers are not for sale or to be manipulated,” he said.
The bill was introduced by centrist lawmaker Laure Miller, who told parliament the legislation was intended to “set a clear boundary” by recognizing that social media is not harmless.
She pointed to reduced reading and sleep among children, as well as increased social comparison.
Former Prime Minister Gabriel Attal, now leader of Macron’s Renaissance party in the Assembly, said platforms would be required to deactivate non-compliant accounts by December 31.
Under the proposal, social media companies would be required to implement age-verification mechanisms in line with European Union regulations to block access for younger users.
The legislation also extends an existing ban on smartphones in junior and middle schools to include high schools.”
Public opinion appears to back the move, with a 2024 Harris Interactive survey showing 73 percent of respondents support banning social media for children under 15.
France follows a growing international trend. Australia recently introduced a similar ban for children under 16, while several European countries are considering comparable measures, despite acknowledged challenges in enforcement.
