Yet Another Major Country is Putting an Age Limit on Social Media

France has passed a bill in its lower house that would ban children under the age of 15 from using social media platforms. The legislation still requires approval from the Senate before it can become law.

Lawmakers introduced the measure in response to rising concerns over online harassment and growing threats to young people’s mental health. The move comes after several other countries have moved towards similar bans, including Australia and the UK.

Introduced in the National Assembly

The bill was introduced in France’s National Assembly and includes a proposal to prohibit minors under 15 from accessing social media platforms.

The legislation also proposes extending the current ban on smartphone use in middle schools to include high schools. Lawmakers cited social media use as a key factor behind the increase in mental health issues among children and teenagers.

Supporters of the bill argue that excessive exposure to social media contributes to anxiety, harassment, and other psychological challenges faced by young users. The proposed restrictions aim to limit these risks by reducing access during formative years.

Emmanuel Macron has repeatedly blamed social media for contributing to rising violence among young people. He has called for banning social media use by minors in France, pointing to similar measures introduced in Australia as a possible model.

If approved by the Senate, the bill would place France among the countries taking stricter action to regulate children’s access to social media platforms.