France’s National Assembly has voted to back legislation that would ban children under the age of 15 from using social media, citing growing concerns over online bullying, addiction, and mental health risks.
Lawmakers approved the bill by 116 votes to 23 on Monday, sending it to the Senate for further review.
President Emmanuel Macron has urged France to follow Australia, which introduced a similar ban for under-16s last year. Macron wants the French ban in place by September, ahead of the next school year.
The proposal would require platforms to block underage users through EU-compliant age verification systems and would also extend France’s smartphone ban in schools to include high schools.
Public support appears strong, with a 2024 survey showing 73 percent of French citizens backing restrictions on social media access for under-15s, though enforcement challenges remain.
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