France to Ban Social Media Use for Children Under 15

France is set to adopt a new law restricting children’s use of social media, following Australia’s example. French parliamentarians have already approved the draft law.

The new regulation will completely ban children under 15 from using social media. For reference, in Australia, this restriction applies to teenagers up to 16 years old.

The French National Assembly approved the draft law 130 to 21. The document will be sent to the Senate and come into effect afterward. President Emmanuel Macron has previously expressed support for this initiative.

Authorities aim to fully implement the ban by the start of the new school year, September 1. Once the law is passed, platforms will have until the end of the year to close accounts that do not meet age requirements.

Like in Australia, the French government notes that social media negatively affects teenagers’ mental health. Experts believe that the algorithms used by platform companies further exacerbate the issue.

At the same time, issues around YouTube remain under discussion, as its structure differs significantly from platforms like X (formerly Twitter) or TikTok. The exact platforms to be classified as “social media” have not yet been announced.