France teeters on the cusp of introducing its own social media ban for children under 16, a measure eerily reminiscent of Australia's pioneering move earlier this week. The proposed law would restrict minors to messaging services only, requiring platforms to verify users' ages and suspend accounts that don't comply.
The bill, spearheaded by MP Laure Miller, is backed by an overwhelming majority of MPs from President Emmanuel Macron's Ensemble pour la République party. Its primary objective is to shield minors from the dangers lurking in social media, including violent content, cyberbullying, and screen addiction.
Conceived in response to a parliamentary inquiry into TikTok's impact on minors, the law seeks to mitigate the psychological effects of the platform on young users. The inquiry highlighted disturbing content such as videos inciting self-harm, suicide, and eating disorders, which were readily accessible to under-16s.
Critics argue that major social media platforms prioritize commercial interests over user well-being, with many algorithms designed to captivate young minds and monetize their attention. Proponents of the ban contend that regulation is necessary to counterbalance this commercial influence and protect vulnerable youth from mental health problems stemming from excessive screen time.
While TikTok has proposed mitigating measures, including increasing its content moderation team and limiting usage time, Meta – which owns Facebook and Instagram – has expressed support for young users retaining access with parental consent. The Australian model, meanwhile, blocks all social media platforms except messaging services for minors under 15.
France's parliament will debate the bill on January 19, 2026. If passed, it would mark a significant shift in the country's approach to digital governance and social media regulation. With France poised to follow Australia's lead, European policymakers are being forced to confront the need for comprehensive protection of young users in the rapidly evolving online landscape.
Critics warn that banning social media could be repressive and that parents should take responsibility for regulating their children's screen time. However, the majority of young people surveyed support the idea, with 67% believing it is justifiable to ban under-15s from social media. As France edges closer to implementing its own social media ban, one thing becomes increasingly clear: the future of online regulation hangs precariously in the balance.
The bill, spearheaded by MP Laure Miller, is backed by an overwhelming majority of MPs from President Emmanuel Macron's Ensemble pour la République party. Its primary objective is to shield minors from the dangers lurking in social media, including violent content, cyberbullying, and screen addiction.
Conceived in response to a parliamentary inquiry into TikTok's impact on minors, the law seeks to mitigate the psychological effects of the platform on young users. The inquiry highlighted disturbing content such as videos inciting self-harm, suicide, and eating disorders, which were readily accessible to under-16s.
Critics argue that major social media platforms prioritize commercial interests over user well-being, with many algorithms designed to captivate young minds and monetize their attention. Proponents of the ban contend that regulation is necessary to counterbalance this commercial influence and protect vulnerable youth from mental health problems stemming from excessive screen time.
While TikTok has proposed mitigating measures, including increasing its content moderation team and limiting usage time, Meta – which owns Facebook and Instagram – has expressed support for young users retaining access with parental consent. The Australian model, meanwhile, blocks all social media platforms except messaging services for minors under 15.
France's parliament will debate the bill on January 19, 2026. If passed, it would mark a significant shift in the country's approach to digital governance and social media regulation. With France poised to follow Australia's lead, European policymakers are being forced to confront the need for comprehensive protection of young users in the rapidly evolving online landscape.
Critics warn that banning social media could be repressive and that parents should take responsibility for regulating their children's screen time. However, the majority of young people surveyed support the idea, with 67% believing it is justifiable to ban under-15s from social media. As France edges closer to implementing its own social media ban, one thing becomes increasingly clear: the future of online regulation hangs precariously in the balance.
france is just trying to protect their kids from all the crap on tiktok and instagram. 15 is still pretty young, it's time to take control of what they're exposed to online. and let's be real, parents aren't exactly doing a great job keeping up with their kids' screen time anyway 
at least with an official ban, there'll be consequences for not following the rules. it's not like france is trying to take away their freedom or anything 
I'm not sure if a total ban on social media for kids is a good idea... I mean, it's great that they're trying to protect us from all the bad stuff out there, but banning it completely might be too extreme. 
I've seen how much my grandkids love their screens and how hard it is to get them to put them down sometimes! 
Maybe instead of banning social media altogether, we could focus on making platforms more family-friendly and teaching our kids how to use them responsibly? 
Like, why do they need a whole law about it? It's not like social media is gonna be the downfall of society or something... 
can you believe we're at a point where governments are having to regulate social media for our kids? I'm all for protecting our little ones from the dark side of the internet, but banning social media altogether seems extreme 
. What about teaching them digital literacy and responsibility instead of just taking away their screens? 
. The Aussie model might be one step too far, but at the same time, I get why France is feeling the need for change 
. The numbers don't lie - 67% of young people support a ban under-15s from social media? That's a clear indication that something needs to shift 
.
. Moreover, this approach overlooks the potential benefits of social media, such as promoting online literacy and digital citizenship among young users 
. A more nuanced approach might involve education and awareness initiatives, as well as stronger parental controls, to mitigate these risks while still allowing minors access to social media platforms with proper safeguards 
At the same time, I get why parents are concerned... screen addiction is no joke, and cyberbullying is a real thing.
. And what's next? Are we gonna get banned from using our phones in public or something?! 
. What about free speech? What about the entrepreneurs who rely on social media to make a living? It's like, let's not be too quick to take away our freedoms just because some kids are getting anxious about online content 
. One thing's for sure, though - it'll be interesting to watch the debate unfold 
I think it's about time we took a step back and re-evaluated how social media affects our kids' mental health. The statistics on screen addiction and cyberbullying are just too scary to ignore. I mean, 67% of young people support the ban? That's like, a lot of teens who know what's good for them! 
. The fact that Meta and other big platforms aren't taking this more seriously is just wild 
. I'm not saying parents can't regulate their kids' screen time, but come on, we need some more drastic measures to protect our youth 
. This ban might just be the push they need to take control of their online lives 
.
It's about time we start taking care of our young minds, especially with all the crazy stuff they can find on social media 
. Maybe we need a compromise, like France is trying to do? 
They're proposing messaging services only for minors under 16, which I think is a good starting point 
. One thing's for sure: we need to start having more conversations about online safety and digital responsibility 
. What's next? Banning the internet altogether? 
. We've all seen the crazy stuff that kids can come across on those platforms, right? It's like, they're basically playgrounds for grown adults who need to chill out 
. Let's see how this whole thing plays out in France before we start drawing conclusions everywhere else 
"we're gonna lock the whole internet down if we don't!"
[A meme of a kid looking at their phone while riding a skateboard]