Paris, France – French lawmakers are racing against time to pass an ambitious bill that would ban the use of social media by children under the age of fifteen. The law aims to officially enter into force with the start of the new academic year next September.
Legislative race and presidential support
Members of the National Assembly and the Senate are scheduled to hold intensive meetings in a joint committee to reach a final consensus on the bill. This is in preparation for a decisive vote in the coming days, before the start of Parliament’s summer recess. The bill enjoys strong and direct support from French President Emmanuel Macron, who considers protecting children from the growing dangers of digital platforms a major national priority. This measure could be one of the most significant legislative achievements of his term, and perhaps his most notable decision before leaving office next year.
Scope of the ban and parliamentary disagreements
In the legislative context, the main point of contention between the two houses of parliament centers on the scope of the platforms to be banned. The National Assembly supports a complete ban on all online social media services, while the Senate prefers an approach based on creating a specific and strict list of platforms targeted by the ban. The bill explicitly exempts online encyclopedias and educational and scientific platforms. Furthermore, it also exempts open-source software development and sharing services. The law also includes comprehensive measures, such as a complete ban on the use of mobile phones in secondary schools.
Health concerns and European warnings
Health concerns and European This legislation comes as part of intensive efforts to protect minors from the risks of excessive and negative use of social media. Despite the importance of this step, the draft law has faced legal challenges from the European Commission. The Commission deemed some of its provisions not fully compliant with the EU Digital Services Act and requested that it be amended accordingly.
These moves come amid growing health concerns; French health reports show that nearly 90 percent of children aged 12 to 17 use smartphones daily to access the internet, while 58 percent rely on these devices for social interaction. Health authorities have repeatedly warned of the potentially devastating effects of these platforms, including decreased self-esteem and exposure to harmful content linked to self-harm and risky behaviors. This coincides with a growing global trend toward imposing stricter restrictions on minors’ use of digital platforms.
