French President Macron Wants to Ban Social Media for Kids Under 15

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While the U.S. is pursuing incremental, state‑level regulation focused on parental consent and platform responsibility, France is pursuing one of the strictest youth social media policies in the world.

French President Emmanuel Macron is pushing to enact a social media ban for children under 15 because he argues that platforms manipulate young users’ emotions, harm mental health, and expose developing brains to addictive algorithms. He wants the law fast‑tracked so it can take effect by the start of the next French school year, framing it as a child‑protection measure rather than a political one.

Why Macron Wants the Ban

Protecting Children’s Mental and Emotional Health

Macron says children’s “brains” and “emotions” are being manipulated by social media platforms.
A parliamentary committee found that social media exposure can negatively affect mental health in young people.
He argues that algorithms—especially from major U.S. and Chinese platforms—are designed to capture attention in ways that are unhealthy for minors.

Reducing Excessive Screen Time

Lawmakers cite growing concerns about excessive screen time and its impact on child development.
The proposed law pairs the social‑media ban with a smartphone ban in high schools to further limit digital overuse.

Shielding Kids from Harmful Content

The legislation is framed as a way to protect minors from harmful or inappropriate content that circulates widely on social platforms.
France would become one of the strictest countries in the world on youth social‑media access, following Australia’s similar ban for under‑16s.

Fast‑Tracking the Law

Macron has asked his government to accelerate the legislative process so the ban can be in place by September.
The National Assembly has already voted in favor of the measure, and it now awaits Senate approval.

What This Means in Practice

If enacted, the law would:

Ban all children under 15 from accessing designated social media platforms.
Empower France’s media regulator to decide which platforms are included (not just TikTok, Snapchat, Instagram).
Extend smartphone bans in schools.

How This Compares to U.S. Debates on Youth Social Media Regulation

France’s proposed under‑15 social‑media ban is far more aggressive than anything currently on the table in the United States. U.S. debates focus more on parental consent, age‑verification, and platform accountability—not outright bans. Individual states have passed dozens of laws, but none prohibit all minors under a certain age from using social media. Some legal scholars argue that broad bans on minors’ access to social media may violate the Fourth Amendment’s Due Process Clause, which protects parental decision‑making.

Public Opinion Differs by Age

A Pew Research Center Survey found that adults are far more supportive of time limits, age verification, and parental consent requirements to create a social media account than teens are: