France’s lower house approves a landmark bill limiting children’s access to social media, as global concern grows over online harm, cyberbullying, and youth mental health
France has taken a decisive step toward tightening digital protections for minors. The country’s National Assembly has passed a bill aimed at barring children under the age of 15 from using social media platforms, citing growing evidence of online harm, bullying, and negative mental health impacts on young users.
The legislation, strongly backed by President Emmanuel Macron, was approved in the lower house by 130 votes to 21 after extensive debate. If cleared by the Senate, France’s upper chamber, the bill will become law. Alongside social media restrictions, the proposed framework also reinforces limits on mobile phone usage in schools, particularly at the high school level.
Macron has repeatedly warned that excessive social media exposure is contributing to rising youth violence, emotional manipulation, and developmental challenges. Praising the vote, he described it as a critical move to safeguard young minds, stating that children’s emotions should not be treated as commodities shaped by foreign platforms and opaque algorithms.
France’s public health watchdog, ANSES, has also raised red flags. According to its findings, popular platforms such as TikTok, Snapchat, and Instagram can have a disproportionately harmful impact on adolescents, especially teenage girls, intensifying anxiety, body image issues, and emotional distress.
Global push to regulate social media for minors
France’s action reflects a broader international shift. Governments worldwide are reassessing how digital platforms affect children, driven by concerns over cyberbullying, violent content, addictive design features, and excessive screen time. Several countries are now moving beyond voluntary guidelines toward strict legal limits.
Australia: World’s first full ban for under-16s
Australia has set a global precedent by enforcing a total ban on social media accounts for users under 16. Introduced in late 2025, the law applies to major platforms including TikTok, Instagram, X, Facebook, Snapchat, and YouTube. Since enforcement began, more than 4.7 million underage accounts have been removed. Companies that fail to take “reasonable steps” to block minors face penalties of up to $50 million.
United Kingdom: Momentum builds in Parliament
In the UK, pressure is mounting. The House of Lords recently backed an amendment supporting a ban on social media for under-16s. This move aligns with the government’s ongoing consultation on phone curfews, stricter age verification, and child-safety standards, indicating a possible shift toward tougher regulation.
Malaysia and Norway: Raising the legal age
Malaysia has announced a nationwide ban for children under 16, set to take effect in July 2026. The policy will rely on government-ID-linked digital verification (eKYC) to enforce compliance. Norway, meanwhile, has increased its statutory minimum age from 13 to 15, arguing that younger users are especially vulnerable to addictive algorithms and harmful content loops.
United States (Virginia): Time limits instead of a ban
While the U.S. has not adopted a nationwide restriction, the state of Virginia introduced a different approach on January 1, 2026. Rather than banning access, the law limits social media use for under-16s to one hour per day, with any additional time requiring verifiable parental consent.
As France’s bill heads to the Senate, the debate underscores a growing global consensus: children need stronger digital safeguards in an era where social media is nearly unavoidable. Whether through outright bans or strict limits, governments are increasingly willing to intervene to protect young users online.
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