France Moves to Ban Social Media for Under-15s

France’s National Assembly has passed a landmark bill banning children under the age of 15 from using social media platforms, citing growing concerns over online harassment, mental health risks, and youth violence. The move follows a similar decision by Australia and reflects increasing global anxiety over the impact of social media on young people. According to a report by Reuters, the legislation prohibits access to social networking platforms for users under 15 years of age. The ban also applies to social networking features embedded within larger digital platforms. Lawmakers say the measure is aimed at protecting children and adolescents from the harmful psychological and social effects of excessive online exposure. French President Emmanuel Macron has repeatedly blamed social media for fueling violence among young people and has urged France to follow Australia’s example. Australia became the first country in the world to impose a nationwide ban on social media use for children under 16, covering platforms such as Facebook, Snapchat, TikTok, and YouTube. The Australian law came into force last December. Macron has said he wants the French ban to be implemented before the start of the next academic year in September. While presenting the bill, French lawmaker Laure Miller said the legislation sends a clear message to society that social media is “not harmless.” “Our children are reading less, sleeping less, and constantly comparing themselves to others,” she said. “This is a fight for free thought.” Right-wing legislator Thierry Perez described the bill as part of a response to a “public health emergency.” He added that although social media has given everyone a voice, children are paying the highest price for that freedom. The European Parliament has also called for setting a minimum age for access to social media across the European Union. However, implementation of such rules would remain the responsibility of individual member states. Meanwhile, several other European countries—including the United Kingdom, Denmark, Spain, and Greece—are considering similar restrictions on children’s access to social media platforms.