PARIS (Kashmir English): French lawmakers have taken a significant leap toward restricting digital access for under-15s, as the lower house approved a landmark bill on Tuesday to ban social media for youth.
Championed by President Emmanuel Macron as a safeguard against excessive screen time and mental health risks, the legislation passed the lower house with a decisive 130-21 vote following an all-night session.
President Macron hailed the vote as a vital move to protect teenagers, stating on X that “our children’s minds are not for sale”.
Beyond social media, the bill extends existing restrictions to include a total ban on mobile phones in high schools.
The bill now moves to the Senate for further debate, with the government aiming for implementation by the start of the next school year in September 2026.
If finalized, the country would become the second nation to enact such a strict limit, following Australia’s recent ban for those under 16.
The move reflects growing global anxiety over the impact of addictive algorithms and digital isolation on child development and adolescent mental health.
“The emotions of our children and teenagers are not for sale or to be manipulated, either by American platforms or Chinese algorithms,” Macron said in a video broadcast.
Authorities want the measures to be enforced from the start of the new school year, in September, for new accounts.
Former prime minister Gabriel Attal, who leads Macron’s Renaissance party in the lower house, hoped that the Senate would pass the bill by mid-February so that the ban could come into force on Sept 1.
He added that “social media platforms will then have until Dec 31 to deactivate existing accounts” that do not comply with the age limit.
Public health watchdog on social media
France’s public health watchdog has warned that social media such as TikTok, Snapchat and Instagram have several detrimental effects on adolescents, particularly girls, though it was not the sole reason for their declining mental health. The risks listed include cyberbullying and exposure to violent content.
