France Parliament Passes Under‑15 Social‑Media Ban, Set for September Implementation
Updated (3 articles)
Parliament Approves Ban with Overwhelming Majority Lawmakers voted 130‑21 to adopt the measure, fast‑tracking it to meet a September start and sending it to the Senate for final review [1][2]. President Emmanuel Macron urged accelerated processing, emphasizing the urgency to protect children before the new school year [1][3]. The bill also extends the existing prohibition on mobile‑phone use in high schools, aiming for a uniform policy across all secondary levels [1][2].
Bill Details Prohibit Platforms and School Phone Use The legislation bars anyone under 15 from accessing major social networks such as Snapchat, Instagram and TikTok [1][2]. A state regulator will maintain two lists: one of sites automatically blocked for minors and a second requiring explicit parental consent, mirroring age‑verification models used for online pornography [2]. Mobile phones will be banned in lycées (senior high schools), expanding the current junior‑school restrictions [1][2].
Health Data and Macron’s Rhetoric Drive Legislation France’s health watchdog found half of teenagers spend two to five hours daily on smartphones, with 90 % of 12‑17‑year‑olds using them every day and 58 % accessing social networks, linking this use to reduced self‑esteem, self‑harm exposure, drug use and suicide‑related content [1][3]. Macron declared youths’ minds “not for sale” to American or Chinese platforms, framing the ban as a safeguard against algorithmic manipulation [1][3]. Families have already sued TikTok over alleged teen suicides, adding legal pressure to the policy push [1][3].
France Aligns With Global Moves on Youth Online Safety The bill is crafted to comply with the EU Digital Services Act, which calls for a bloc‑wide minimum age of 16 and bans harmful online practices [1]. It follows Australia’s recent under‑16 ban that removed about 4.7 million child accounts, a precedent cited by French officials [1][3]. The United Kingdom is consulting on a similar restriction, while Denmark, Greece, Spain and Ireland are reportedly considering comparable measures [2].
Sources (3 articles)
-
[1]
AP: France Approves Bill Banning Social Media for Under‑15s: reports the 130‑21 vote, fast‑track request, high‑school phone ban, health watchdog findings, and international parallels .
-
[2]
BBC: France Moves Toward Ban on Social Media for Under‑15s: outlines dual regulator lists, parental‑consent mechanism, cross‑party support, accelerated procedure, senior‑school phone ban, and global trend context .
-
[3]
AP: Macron pushes accelerated ban on social media for under‑15s as France cites teen health risks: highlights Macron’s video appeal, “minds not for sale” comment, TikTok lawsuits, Australian precedent numbers, and mental‑health justification .
Timeline
2023 – The EU adopts the Digital Services Act, which calls for a bloc‑wide minimum age of 16 for social‑media users and bans the most harmful online practices, setting a regulatory backdrop for later national bans [2].
2025 – Australia implements an under‑16 social‑media ban, forcing platforms to delete about 4.7 million child accounts; the move sparks global debate on privacy, safety, and teen mental health and influences other countries [3].
2025 – Denmark, Greece, Spain, Ireland and the United Kingdom launch consultations or consider restrictions on social media for users under 16, creating a European trend that France later joins [1].
Dec 2025 – France’s health watchdog releases a report showing that half of teenagers spend two‑to‑five hours daily on smartphones, 90 % of 12‑17‑year‑olds use them every day, and heavy use correlates with lower self‑esteem, exposure to self‑harm, drug use and suicide‑related content [3].
2025 – Several French families file lawsuits against TikTok, alleging that the platform’s content contributed to teen suicides, adding legal pressure on tech companies to protect minors [3].
Jan 25, 2026 – President Emmanuel Macron urges an accelerated, fast‑track ban on social media for under‑15s, telling lawmakers that “young people’s minds are not for sale” to American or Chinese platforms and demanding the law be ready for the September school start [3].
Jan 26, 2026 – The National Assembly votes to adopt the core provisions of the under‑15 ban, creating two regulator‑approved lists (automatic block and parental‑consent access), and requests a fast‑track procedure to meet the September implementation deadline [1].
Jan 27, 2026 – The French Parliament passes the ban by a 130‑21 vote, setting the prohibition to begin at the start of the next school year in September 2026 and extending the mobile‑phone ban to senior high schools; Macron cites scientific consensus and stresses that children’s brains “are not for sale” [2].
Jan 27, 2026 (future) – The Senate is slated to review the bill in the coming weeks under the fast‑track process, after which the law could be enacted before the September 2026 school term begins [2].