France moves to ban social media access for children under 15

French President Emmanuel Macron has directed his government to expedite parliamentary approval of legislation that would ban social media access for children under 15 years old, with potential implementation beginning next autumn according to domestic media reports.

The French leader confirmed his administration's support for the draft law in a video statement obtained by broadcaster BFMTV, where he acknowledged ruling party lawmaker Laure Miller for her work on the proposal following a parliamentary investigation into platforms like TikTok. Macron characterized the legislation as fulfilling a longstanding commitment to stricter digital regulation that he initially pursued through international forums like UNESCO starting in 2018.

Protection From "American Platforms and Chinese Algorithms"

Macron articulated a firm stance regarding the proposed restrictions, stating, "This is a very clear message: the brains of our children and teenagers are not for sale." He extended this declaration to include what he described as protection from both "American platforms" and "Chinese algorithms," positioning the measure as safeguarding minors' emotions and cognitive development. The bill builds upon existing French laws addressing screen time and online abuse while introducing more specific age-based access prohibitions.

Accelerated Legislative Timeline

The government plans to invoke an accelerated parliamentary procedure to shorten the bill's passage through France's National Assembly, where it is scheduled for initial review during a session reserved for Macron's Renaissance party. This fast-tracking approach aims to enable what officials hope will be rapid enactment of the social media restrictions. The legislation also encompasses broader measures limiting mobile phone usage within school environments as part of comprehensive youth protection policies.

International Context and Rationale

France's initiative follows similar regulatory moves internationally, most notably Australia's recent implementation of a social media ban for users under 16. Australian authorities reported disabling millions of accounts during the first month of enforcement. The French government frames its proposed law as a component of wider efforts to combat online harassment, exposure to harmful content, and documented risks to minors' mental health associated with excessive social media engagement. The development reflects growing global scrutiny of digital platforms' impact on younger users.