January 27, 2026
The French Parliament recently passed a law banning the use of social media for those under the age of 15, a move that President Emmanuel Macron described as a way to protect children from spending too much time in front of screens.
130 representatives voted in favor of this law, while 21 representatives opposed it, in a session that lasted until the early hours of Tuesday morning, and then the law will be sent to the Senate for ratification to become an effective law.
In a post on the “X” platform, “Macron” praised the passage of this law, describing it as a “big step” towards protecting children and adolescents in France.
The legislation also includes a ban on the use of mobile phones in secondary schools, making France the second country to take such a step after Australia, which in December banned the use of social media for those under the age of 16.
In a video broadcast on Saturday, Macron stated: “The feelings of our children and teenagers are not for sale or to be manipulated, whether by American platforms or Chinese algorithms.”
Former French Prime Minister Gabriel Attal expressed his hope that the Senate would approve the law by mid-February, so that the ban would take effect as of September 1.
He added that “social media platforms will have until December 31 to disable existing accounts” that do not adhere to the minimum age.
Earlier this month, the French Agency for Food, Environment, Health and Occupational Safety announced that social media, such as “Tik Tok,” “Snapchat,” and “Instagram,” have many negative effects on adolescents, especially girls, noting that they are not the only reason for the deterioration of their mental health.
Risks associated with social media platforms include cyberbullying and exposure to violent content.
