The French Senate voted on a social media ban for children but there are legal disagreements with the government on how to do it. Lawmakers in France have approved a plan to restrict social media access for children under the age of 15, part of a broader push across Europe to limit minors’ exposure to online platforms. The Senate’s vote on Tuesday follows a January proposal by the National Assembly, France’s lower house, and reflects President Emmanuel Macron’s ongoing pledge to protect young users from harmful digital content.
The National Assembly’s version of the law requires all social media platforms to delete accounts belonging to children under 15 and block new users under that age. It also calls for a ban on mobile phones in high schools. The Senate’s approach, however, proposes a two-tier system. Platforms deemed harmful to “physical, mental or moral development” would be restricted, while others could be accessed with parental consent. Educational websites and online encyclopedias are excluded from the restrictions.
The differing versions will need to be reconciled, a process that could delay the legislation’s implementation. Officials are also debating the method of age verification, which is currently under discussion at the European Union level. Any system is not expected to be introduced until early 2027.
France has consistently advocated for stricter rules on children’s screen time and social media use. President Macron said in January that the emotions of children and teenagers should not be “for sale or manipulated by American platforms and Chinese algorithms.” Previous legislation passed in 2023, which required parental consent for minors under 15, did not come into effect due to conflicts with the EU’s Digital Services Act. Recent EU guideline revisions have given member states more flexibility to set national age limits or conditions for social media access.
France is not alone in considering strict measures. Australia became the first country to ban children under 16 from social media last December, aiming to protect minors from harmful content and excessive screen use.
The European Union is also pushing for a coordinated approach. In November, the European Parliament proposed a non-binding resolution to set a Europe-wide minimum age of 16 for social media, video-sharing platforms, and AI companions. The proposal allows children aged 13 to 16 to access these platforms with parental consent, balancing protection with limited access for older minors.
The French debate highlights the growing tension between national legislation, EU rules, and the tech industry’s responsibilities. As lawmakers negotiate a final version, parents and educators are closely watching, aware that the outcome could reshape the digital landscape for children across France and potentially influence policies across Europe.
