PARIS (The Pak Global Pakistan) – France’s National Assembly on Monday approved legislation to ban children under 15 from accessing social media, reflecting rising concerns over online bullying, mental health risks, and the influence of digital platforms on minors.
The bill, passed by a vote of 116 to 23, targets social networks as well as social networking features embedded within broader platforms. It now moves to the Senate before a final vote in the lower house.
President Emmanuel Macron has cited social media as a contributing factor to youth violence and urged France to adopt measures similar to Australia’s world-first ban, which restricts under-16s from platforms including Facebook, Snapchat, TikTok, and YouTube. Australia’s law came into effect last December.
Macron aims for the French ban to be implemented in time for the start of the next academic year in September.
“With this law, we are setting a clear boundary in society and saying social media is not harmless,” said centrist lawmaker Laure Miller while presenting the bill. “Our children are reading less, sleeping less, and comparing themselves to one another more. This is a battle for free minds.”
The legislation enjoys broad political and public support in France. Far-right lawmaker Thierry Perez described it as a response to a “health emergency,” noting the mental and social risks posed by unrestricted access to online platforms.
The law would require social media companies to implement age-verification systems that comply with European Union regulations. While enforcement challenges are expected, authorities point to Australia’s experience, where children under 16 found ways to circumvent restrictions, highlighting the practical difficulties of implementing such bans.
Other European countries, including Britain, Denmark, Spain, and Greece, are reportedly reviewing Australia’s social media ban, while the European Parliament has urged the EU to set minimum age limits for online platforms.
France’s move underscores growing international efforts to regulate social media for minors, balancing technological access with child safety and mental health priorities.