France Plans to Ban Social Media for Kids Under 15
France is taking steps to prohibit social media use for those under the age of 15. President Emmanuel Macron has urged lawmakers to expedite legislation in response to increasing concerns about children’s screen time worldwide.
In a video shared by broadcaster BFM-TV, Macron mentioned that he has directed the government to accelerate the legislative process, aiming for the bill’s approval by the time the next school year begins in September.
“The brains of our children and teenagers are not for sale,” Macron asserted. He emphasized that young people’s emotions should not be exploited or manipulated, whether by American companies or foreign algorithms.
This initiative comes shortly after the UK government floated the idea of similar regulations to better protect children from harmful online influences and excessive screen exposure.
According to a report from a French health authority, about half of teenagers spend between two and five hours daily on their smartphones. Additionally, around 90% of kids ages 12 to 17 reportedly use a smartphone to access the internet, with 58% engaging in social media activities.
The health agency has raised alarms regarding the correlation between heavy social media use and low self-esteem, as well as heightened exposure to risky behaviors, such as self-harm, drug use, and suicide-related content.
Some families in France have even filed lawsuits against TikTok, claiming that the platform has exposed their teenagers to harmful content related to suicide.
Macron’s office informed The Associated Press that the video was intended for lawmaker Laure Miller, who is sponsoring the upcoming bill set for public discussion on Monday.
“We will impose a ban on social media for individuals under 15, as well as on mobile phone usage in high schools,” Macron stated. “These rules are straightforward—clear for teens, families, and educators—and we intend to move forward.”
This action follows France’s previous introduction of a social media ban for children under 16 last December, which restricted access to platforms like Facebook, TikTok, and YouTube.
