France to ban social media for children under 15

A smartphone with Facebook and Messenger apps in New Orleans, USA. Photo: Jenny Kane/AP Photo

In December 2025, French authorities announced their intention to introduce a ban on the use of social networks by children under 15, as stated in the draft law, reports European Conservative.

According to the document, the restrictions are planned to be introduced by September of the following year as part of a new state effort to reduce the time minors spend in front of screens. The bill provides for a ban on access to social media platforms for users below the established age.

The initiative was supported by President Emmanuel Macron, who previously stated the need to start parliamentary discussions on this proposal as early as January. According to him, protecting minors in the digital environment is one of the priorities of state policy.

The draft notes that numerous studies point to the risks associated with excessive use of social networks by teenagers. The French authorities point to the danger of children coming into contact with inappropriate content, the threat of cyberbullying, as well as the negative impact of the digital environment on sleep and psycho-emotional state.

Similar measures were previously adopted in Australia, where a ban on the use of social media by individuals under the age of 16 was introduced in December. In France, a ban on the use of mobile phones in schools has already been in place since 2018; however, as the authorities note, in practice it is applied in a limited manner.

Earlier, the UOJ wrote that Belgium will ban social networks for children under 15.

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