Tuesday, January 27, 2026-France is rapidly advancing a high‑impact proposal to ban children under 15 from using social media, a move strongly backed by President Emmanuel Macron as lawmakers in the National Assembly push the legislation forward.
The measure passed a key vote in the lower house of parliament with overwhelming support, and now heads to the Senate before it can become law. Macron has framed the proposal as a decisive effort to protect young people from the growing harms linked to excessive screen time, online bullying, and exposure to harmful content.
Supporters of the bill argue that early immersion in social networks like TikTok, Instagram, and Snapchat is damaging children’s mental health and development. The proposal also includes extending existing restrictions on mobile phones to older students in high schools, seeking to create safer, less addictive digital environments for youth. While many lawmakers and families applaud the move, some teenagers and civil liberties advocates argue it may be overly restrictive and raise questions about personal freedom and enforcement.
If approved by the Senate and implemented as planned, France would become one of the first countries in Europe to ban social media access outright for under‑15s, following similar action taken by Australia for under‑16s. Macron and his allies aim for the ban to take effect at the start of the 2026 school year, setting a new standard in digital safety policy and potentially influencing broader debates across the continent about youth online regulation.
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