France has taken another significant step toward strengthening online child safety after a joint committee of the French Parliament approved a bill that would prohibit children under the age of 15 from accessing social media platforms. The proposed legislation is part of the country’s broader efforts to protect minors from the potential harms associated with excessive social media use and digital addiction.
The reconciliation committee, responsible for resolving differences between the two chambers of Parliament, reached an agreement on the bill on Monday. The harmonised text will now be presented before the National Assembly (Lower House) for debate, followed by consideration in the Senate, before it can become law.
French President Emmanuel Macron has strongly backed the proposal and expressed his intention for the legislation to come into force before the beginning of the new academic year in early September. The move reflects the French government’s growing focus on safeguarding children’s mental health, online privacy and digital well-being.
If enacted, France would become one of the first European countries to introduce a nationwide restriction on social media access for young teenagers. The initiative follows Australia, which approved the world’s first nationwide legislation in December requiring major social media platforms to prevent users under the age of 16 from creating accounts.
The proposed French legislation would empower the country’s Minister for Digital Affairs to establish an official list of social media platforms covered under the restriction. Popular platforms operated by major technology companies, including Meta, Snap, ByteDance and Alphabet, are expected to be among those affected if they fall within the government’s designated list.
Under the proposed law, social media companies would be required to implement robust age verification systems capable of preventing children under 15 from accessing their platforms. These verification mechanisms would need to receive approval from France’s national data protection authority, ensuring compliance with privacy and data protection regulations.
The legislation represents part of a broader international movement to introduce stricter regulations governing children’s access to digital platforms. Governments across the world have increasingly raised concerns about the impact of prolonged social media use on young people’s mental health, exposure to harmful content, cyberbullying, misinformation and online addiction.
President Macron has also sought to build broader support for similar measures across the European Union, arguing that coordinated regulation would improve the effectiveness of age restrictions across digital platforms operating internationally.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has recently expressed support for stronger measures to limit children’s access to social media across the 27-member European Union, indicating that child online safety could become a greater regulatory priority at the European level.
In addition to restricting social media access, the French bill also includes provisions aimed at reducing smartphone use within educational institutions. The legislation proposes extending restrictions on smartphone usage in high schools, reinforcing France’s broader strategy of promoting healthier digital habits among students and reducing classroom distractions.
Supporters of the legislation argue that limiting children’s exposure to social media during formative years could contribute to improved concentration, mental well-being and safer online experiences. They also contend that stronger age verification requirements would encourage technology companies to take greater responsibility for protecting younger users.
However, the implementation of effective age verification remains one of the most significant challenges. Technology companies, privacy advocates and policymakers continue to debate how platforms can accurately verify users’ ages while safeguarding personal data and maintaining user privacy.
The French proposal reflects a growing global trend toward stricter regulation of digital platforms, particularly regarding child safety. Countries around the world are increasingly examining measures such as age verification, parental controls and platform accountability as governments seek to balance technological innovation with stronger protections for minors.
If approved by both chambers of Parliament and enacted before the new school year, the legislation would position France among the leading countries implementing comprehensive regulations to limit young teenagers’ access to social media platforms.
Disclaimer: This report has been editorially prepared using publicly available information and official statements. Readers are advised to refer to official French government announcements and parliamentary proceedings for further details.
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