France is moving closer to banning social media access for younger teenagers, as debate on a proposed new law opened in the National Assembly. The legislation would block under-15-year-olds from accessing platforms such as Snapchat, Instagram and TikTok.
President Emmanuel Macron has said he wants the ban implemented by the start of the school year in September. The proposal forms part of a wider global push to restrict children’s access to social media, driven by growing concern over its impact on mental and emotional health.
“We cannot leave the mental and emotional health of our children in the hands of people whose sole purpose is to make money out of them,” Macron said last month.
Under the draft law, the state media regulator would draw up a list of social media platforms deemed harmful. These would be completely banned for under-15s. A separate list of platforms considered less harmful would remain accessible, but only with explicit parental consent.
The bill is expected to have strong backing, with pro-Macron parties likely to be joined by the centre-right Republicans as well as the far-right National Rally. Another provision would extend the existing mobile phone ban in schools to senior secondary schools (lycées). Phones are already banned in junior and middle schools.
If passed, the government would still need to finalise an age-verification system. France already operates a system requiring adults to verify their age when accessing online pornography.
Several European countries, including Denmark, Greece, Spain and Ireland, are also considering similar restrictions, following Australia’s move to ban social media for young teenagers. Earlier this month, the UK government launched a consultation on banning social media for under-16s.
The French proposal is based on a text drafted late last year by MP Laure Miller, who chaired a parliamentary inquiry into the psychological effects of TikTok and other platforms. Separately, the government was asked to prepare its own legislation after Macron made the issue a central focus of his final year in office.
The president has been largely sidelined from domestic politics since the 2024 Assembly elections resulted in a hung parliament, making the social media ban a rare opportunity to regain public support. While tensions briefly emerged between Macron and his former prime minister Gabriel Attal, the government has since united behind the Miller bill.
If approved by the National Assembly, the legislation will move to the Senate next month. Macron has requested a fast-track procedure to ensure the law is passed in time for a September rollout. Without fast-tracking, the bill could be delayed by legislative backlogs linked to ongoing budget disputes.
The proposal has already been revised following concerns raised by the Council of State to ensure compliance with French and European law. A similar law passed in 2023 was later ruled unenforceable after courts found it conflicted with European regulations.
