French Parliament races to ban social media for children under 15

By the Editorial Team · Wednesday, July 22, 2026

French lawmakers are fast-tracking a bill to ban children under 15 from social media platforms, aiming to implement the law by September while negotiating differences between comprehensive and targeted restrictions. The legislation, supported by President Macron and aligned with EU regulations, addresses rising concerns over social media’s impact on youth mental health but faces scrutiny from the European Commission over regulatory authority and compliance issues.

French lawmakers are working urgently to finalize legislation that would prohibit children under 15 from accessing social media platforms, aiming to have the law in place by the start of the school year in September. With the summer recess approaching, a joint committee of seven National Assembly members and seven senators convened on Monday to negotiate a compromise on the bill, which could be put to a vote later this week.

The proposed legislation, strongly supported by President Emmanuel Macron, seeks to address growing concerns about the physical and mental health impacts of social media on minors. It would also reinforce an existing ban on mobile phone use in high schools. The bill is one of the significant measures expected to be passed before Macron leaves office next year.

A key point of contention between the two parliamentary chambers revolves around the types of platforms to be restricted. The National Assembly favors a comprehensive ban on all social networking services, while the Senate advocates for maintaining a blacklist of specific platforms. Exceptions in the legislation would apply to online encyclopedias, educational or scientific directories, and software development-sharing platforms.

The bill is designed to comply with the European Union’s Digital Services Act, which enforces strict regulations to protect internet users online. However, the European Commission has expressed concerns that the latest version of the French bill conflicts with EU law, noting overlaps with the existing EU framework. While the Commission did not object to the concept of a blacklist, it criticized certain provisions that would grant excessive authority to France’s regulatory body for audiovisual and digital communication.

The Senate insisted that protecting the well-being of children remains a priority, emphasizing the urgency of the issue in a recent statement. If the committee reaches an agreement, the bill could be presented for final approval in both legislative chambers as early as Tuesday. Due to EU notification requirements, the law would not take effect before August 10.

According to a report from France’s health watchdog published last December, half of teenagers spend between two and five hours daily on smartphones. The report found that about 90% of children aged 12 to 17 access the internet daily via smartphones, with 58% using social networks. It highlighted negative consequences linked to social media use, including diminished self-esteem and greater exposure to harmful content associated with self-harm, drug use, and suicide. Several French families have filed lawsuits against TikTok, connecting the platform to teen suicides allegedly triggered by dangerous content.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen recently advocated for restrictions on children’s social media use, aligning with recommendations from a special EU panel that suggested banning access for users under 13 until platforms can demonstrate adequate safety measures.

This move to restrict social media access for minors reflects a broader global trend, with countries such as Australia, the United Kingdom, Turkey, and Indonesia enacting similar bans on children below 15 or 16 years old for platforms like TikTok, YouTube, and Instagram.

This article was reported by synthesizing coverage from multiple independent news outlets to present a balanced, unbiased account. Read about our editorial standards. Spotted an error? Let us know.