Media

France to Ban Social Media for Children Under 15 in 2026

Are social media bans rightly gaining in popularity, or are there other instruments that can promote safety but preserve free expression?

Published DEC 31 2025

France to Ban Social Media for Children Under 15 in 2026

Story

Above: A passerby uses her mobile phone in Paris, France, on Dec. 13, 2025. Image credit: Edward Berthelot/Getty Images

The Facts

France plans to ban social media platforms for children under 15 starting from the 2026 academic year. A draft bill has been completed and will be submitted to the government's legal counsel for review, with parliamentary debate expected in January.
Firstpost
RFI
The draft legislation cites risks of excessive screen use by teenagers, including exposure to inappropriate content, cyberbullying and sleep disturbances. The bill also proposes extending the existing mobile phone ban to high schools.
France24.com
European Conservative
President Emmanuel Macron stated that increased screen time correlates with declining school achievement and rising mental health problems. He used an analogy comparing a teenager using social media to getting into a Formula One car before learning to drive.
Firstpost
Guardian
A previous French law establishing a digital age of majority at 15, passed in 2023, was blocked due to conflicts with European Union rules. The new bill is designed to comply with European law, specifically the EU's Digital Services Act.
Le Figaro
Le Monde
Australia imposed a social media ban for under-16s in December, becoming the first country to implement such legislation. Several other countries, including Denmark, Norway and Malaysia, are considering similar restrictions for 2026.
Anadolu Agency
Guardian
A French parliamentary inquiry concluded in September that TikTok was like a "slow poison" to children. In 2024, seven French families filed a lawsuit against TikTok, accusing it of exposing their children to content pushing them towards content promoting self-harm.
France24.com
Guardian

Sources Split

LEFT

CENTER

RIGHT

ESTAB
CRIT

CENTER

PRO
ESTAB

The Spin

Techno-skeptic narrative

Calls to restrict social media are strikingly popular in France, spanning left and right and backed by politicians and teenagers alike, with youth groups loudly urging age limits to curb the harm they've experienced personally. An under-15 ban would reduce exposure to predation, harassment and harmful algorithms, helping address youth mental health crises while cutting the risk of sexual violence online.

Le Figaro

guardian

Techno-optimist narrative

While the pro-ban movement has certainly grown and may win the day, there are alternative ways to protect children without criminalizing youth social media use. Many EU states favor parental consent, education and enforcing existing laws, allowing families and cultures to set limits. These approaches can reduce harm while preserving teens' access to online communities and support.

Politico

Cynical narrative

Using Australia as a guide, these teenager social media bans look less like child protection and more like speech control. Canberra's under-16 ban overrides parental choice, mandates age verification for everyone and risks surveillance creep. By cutting teens off from political debate, minority communities and alternative viewpoints, these measures curb youth expression rather than targeting platform harms directly.

Well Sourced from Kelly Jensen Substack