French Parliament passes bill banning social media for children under 15
RNE World.
France’s lower house of parliament has passed a bill banning social media access for children under the age of 15.
The National Assembly approved the legislation during an overnight session from Monday into Tuesday, supporting a measure championed by President Emmanuel Macron to protect children from excessive screen time and harmful online content.
The bill was passed by 116 votes to 23 and follows similar measures abroad, including Australia’s ban on social media for under-16s. Supporters say the law will help curb cyberbullying and reduce mental health risks, while critics warn of enforcement and age-verification challenges.
Under the new rules, the ban will apply to new accounts from the 2026 school year, and existing non-compliant accounts will be shut down by the end of that year.
