French lawmakers have approved legislation that would ban children under the age of 15 from using social media platforms, a move aimed at reducing excessive screen time and protecting adolescent mental health. The bill was passed in the National Assembly by a wide margin and will now be debated in the Senate before becoming law.
The proposed legislation would make France the second country to introduce such restrictions after Australia. It also includes a ban on mobile phone use in high schools, extending earlier measures that already prohibit phones in middle schools.
Supporters of the bill argue that social media platforms expose young users to risks such as cyberbullying, violent content, and psychological harm. French authorities have cited growing evidence linking excessive social media use to declining mental health among adolescents, particularly girls.
If approved by the Senate, the ban would apply to new social media accounts from the start of the 2026 school year. Platforms would then be required to deactivate existing accounts belonging to underage users by the end of that year. Educational and reference platforms would be excluded from the restriction.
The law would require the implementation of a robust age-verification system, which is currently under development at the European level.
Critics of the proposal have raised concerns about digital overreach, arguing that regulation should focus more on holding technology companies accountable rather than restricting access for young users.