Lawmakers voted 116 to 23 in favour of the bill, which proposes banning under 15s from social networks as well as social networking features embedded within wider digital platforms. The legislation will now be sent to the Senate before returning to the lower house for a final vote.
President Emmanuel Macron has repeatedly highlighted social media as one of the factors contributing to violence and harmful behaviour among young people. He has urged France to follow the example of Australia, which implemented a world first ban on social media access for under 16s in December 2025.
If approved, the French ban is expected to come into force from September 2026, at the start of the next academic year. Presenting the bill to the assembly, centrist lawmaker Laure Miller said the legislation aimed to set a clear societal boundary, arguing that social media is not harmless. She said children were reading and sleeping less while constantly comparing themselves to others, calling it a battle for free minds.
The move would place France alongside Australia, whose ban is currently being examined by several other countries, including Britain, Denmark, Spain and Greece. The European Parliament has also called on the European Union to set minimum age limits for social media use, though individual member states remain responsible for enforcement.
Support for curbing minors’ access to social media is strong across France’s political spectrum. Far right lawmaker Thierry Perez described the bill as a response to a health emergency, questioning the cost to children of unrestricted online expression.
Under the proposed law, social media platforms would be required to block access for young teenagers using age verification systems that comply with EU regulations. However, regulators have acknowledged that enforcing such measures could prove difficult. Australia’s government has also admitted that the rollout of its own ban has faced challenges.
The French legislation would also expand an existing ban on smartphones in junior and middle schools to include high schools, further limiting digital access during school hours.
Public opinion in France appears largely supportive. A survey conducted in 2024 found that 73 percent of respondents backed a ban on social media for under 15s. Teenagers in Paris expressed mixed views, with some acknowledging the risks of social media while others felt an outright ban went too far.
Several other countries, including the UK, Norway, Denmark, Germany and Spain, are also considering or pursuing measures to restrict social media use among minors.
