France’s National Assembly has approved a bill aimed at restricting children’s access to social media, covering those under the age of 15. Following similar measures adopted by Australia, France has brought the issue of a social media ban onto the agenda due to concerns over cyberbullying and mental health.
The National Assembly approved legislation that would ban children under 15 from using social media platforms. Prepared amid growing concerns over online bullying and mental health risks, the bill seeks to prohibit under-15s from accessing social networks.
In the vote, 116 lawmakers voted in favor and 23 voted against. After being reviewed by the Senate, the bill will return to the National Assembly for final approval.
The law aims to restrict access not only to social media platforms but also to “social networking features” integrated into other digital applications for children under 15.
French President Emmanuel Macron has argued that social media is one of the factors contributing to violence and behavioral problems among young people. Macron said France should take Australia — which has introduced a social media ban for those under 16 — as an example.
The government is aiming for the regulation to enter into force in September, with the start of the new academic year.
‘Social media is not harmless’
Presenting the bill in parliament, lawmaker Laure Miller said, “With this law, we are drawing a clear line in society. Social media is not harmless.” Miller emphasized that children read fewer books, sleep less, and constantly compare themselves to others. Another lawmaker, Thierry Perez, described the regulation as “a public health emergency.”
Under the new law, social media platforms will be required to establish age-verification systems in line with European Union regulations, which will be used to block access for users under 15.
However, experts warn that enforcing such bans may prove difficult. After a similar regulation in Australia, many children reportedly continued to access platforms by concealing their age. France’s new regulation also extends the smartphone ban currently applied in middle schools to high schools.