What We Know About France's Social Media Ban for Under-15s - Frenchly

"The French government is planning a law that would ban access to social media platforms for anyone under the age of 15, a move that places the country among a small but growing group of nations willing to directly challenge the power of Big Tech in the name of child protection. Announced at the very end of 2025 and set to begin committee debate on January 13, 2026,"

"Concerns about children's exposure to screens and social media are not new in France. For years, policymakers, educators, and health professionals have warned about the impact of algorithm-driven platforms on young users. French authorities frequently cite issues such as exposure to inappropriate content, cyberbullying, addictive design features, and sleep disruption among adolescents. These worries have been reinforced by international studies, including OECD research suggesting that heavy smartphone use is associated with significant learning delays among students."

"Unlike in the United States, where debates around social media regulation often center on free speech and parental responsibility, France approaches the issue through a more interventionist public policy lens. The state has traditionally played a strong role in regulating education, media, and public health, which helps explain why lawmakers are willing to consider a blanket age-based restriction rather than relying solely on parental controls or voluntary platform measures."

France plans legislation to ban under-15s from accessing social media platforms, with committee debate starting January 13, 2026. The move targets platforms such as Instagram, Snapchat, and TikTok and aligns France with a small set of nations restraining Big Tech to protect children. French policymakers cite risks including exposure to inappropriate content, cyberbullying, addictive design elements, and sleep disruption, and reference studies linking heavy smartphone use to learning delays. The approach reflects a traditionally interventionist French public policy stance, favoring state regulation over reliance on parental controls or voluntary platform measures.

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