Le Monde.fr

French MPs approve social media ban for children under 15

European Conservative

French Lawmakers Vote in Favour of Banning Social Media for Under-15s

Al Jazeera

French MPs approve law seeking ban on social media for children below 15

Euractiv

Macron Says France To Fast Track Ban Social Media For Kids Under 15

Connexionfrance

French MPs back plan to ban under-15s from social media

EmmanuelMacron

National Assembly of France

Texte de la commission, n 2341-A0

Analyse du scrutin n5192

GabrielAttal

EuroNews

French lawmakers approve bill banning social media for children under 15. Heres what we know

ArSaint_Martin

Guardian

The Guardian view on Australia’s social media ban: dragging tech companies into action | Editorial

f_philippot

Metaculus

Eu Age Verification On Social Mediaai In 2026

Anthony Albanese

9News Australia

Terry Flew

Australian Human Rights Commission

Aaron Mackey

Joanne Orlando

Melissa McIntosh

Damini Satija

Julie Inman Grant

Timothy Koskie

"They took the easy option, and it will fail."

“New accounts are being created and the age-verification tools that the government assured Australians would be effective, have proven laughably easy to bypass with some makeup and good lighting.”

“Tech-savvy teens simply use VPNs, fake birth photos for face scans, or migrate to less regulated platforms like Lemon8, or to platforms not part of the ban like video games. Enforcement is proving to be difficult in the days leading up to the ban.”

"Some verification methods are often inaccurate while others are easily circumvented.”

"Technological workarounds – such as VPNs and false age declarations – may undermine the effectiveness of the ban."

"This law will also push many users toward platforms that are more personal and private, like Telegram channels, WhatsApp Communities, and Signal Groups, which are not currently banned because they are important tools for encrypted and direct communication."

David Inserra

“Ultimately, reducing online harm would be a great outcome; however, we know from evidence that ‘banning’ anything from young people won’t work on its own.”

Louise La Sala

“There’s a fair amount of teething problems around it. Many young people have been posting on TikTok that they successfully evaded the age limitations and that’s to be expected.”

"I think it will help a lot of parents because it's not them saying no, it's an actual law."

Cassie Xintavelonis

“We don’t expect safety laws to eliminate every single breach. If we did, speed limits would have failed because people speed, drinking limits would have failed because, believe it or not, some kids do get access to alcohol.”

“The fact that teenagers occasionally find a way to have a drink doesn’t diminish the value of having a clear national standard.”

"Just as the banning of phones in school classrooms by many state governments hasn't on day one led to perfect compliance, now it's just accepted that there are improved educational outcomes, improved behaviour, improved social outcomes as a result."

"Australia's social media ban is already driving change, and is proof that the threat of regulation works, even before the law takes effect. Waiting for perfect policy risks paralysis when real progress is already within reach.”

Will Australia's Under 16 Social Media Ban be Effective?

The French National Assembly passed legislation aimed at banning social media use for children under 15 years old during an overnight session on Monday evening, with the vote tallying 130 to 21. The bill will now proceed to the Senate for approval.

The French National Assembly passed legislation aimed at banning social media use for children under 15 years old during an overnight session on Monday evening, with the vote tallying 130 to 21. The bill will now proceed to the Senate for approval.

President Emmanuel Macron described the vote as a "major step," calling France a "pioneer" in platform governance and claiming that "our children's brains are not for sale. Neither to American platforms nor to Chinese networks."

Emmanuel Macron

President Emmanuel Macron described the vote as a "major step," calling France a "pioneer" in platform governance and claiming that "our children's brains are not for sale. Neither to American platforms nor to Chinese networks."

The legislation aims to have the ban enforced from the start of the 2026 school year for new accounts, with social media platforms required to deactivate existing noncompliant accounts by Dec. 31, 2026. An age verification system compliant with EU law would be necessary.

The legislation aims to have the ban enforced from the start of the 2026 school year for new accounts, with social media platforms required to deactivate existing noncompliant accounts by Dec. 31, 2026. An age verification system compliant with EU law would be necessary.

The legislation also extends an existing ban on smartphones in junior and middle schools to cover high schools, though the final text allows phone use in designated outdoor areas while banning use during lessons and in corridors.

The legislation also extends an existing ban on smartphones in junior and middle schools to cover high schools, though the final text allows phone use in designated outdoor areas while banning use during lessons and in corridors.

France's public health watchdog ANSES has reported that social media platforms such as TikTok, Snapchat and Instagram have detrimental effects on adolescents, particularly girls, including risks of cyberbullying and exposure to violent content.

France's public health watchdog ANSES has reported that social media platforms such as TikTok, Snapchat and Instagram have detrimental effects on adolescents, particularly girls, including risks of cyberbullying and exposure to violent content.

This comes following <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.verity.news/story/2025/australia-enforces-social-media-ban-for-children-under-">Australia's own social media ban</a> for children under 16. France did pass legislation in 2023 requiring children under 15 to gain parental consent before accessing social media, however the policy did not come into effect after not being deemed EU compliant.

This comes following Australia's own social media ban for children under 16. France did pass legislation in 2023 requiring children under 15 to gain parental consent before accessing social media, however the policy did not come into effect after not being deemed EU compliant.

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Metaculus #

France leads Europe by confronting the public health catastrophe social networks inflict on young minds. Self-regulation has failed as tech giants prioritize profits over safety, making legal intervention necessary. Banning social media for under-15s protects children's futures from addictive platforms designed like slot machines.

France leads Europe by confronting the public health catastrophe social networks inflict on young minds. Self-regulation has failed as tech giants prioritize profits over safety, making legal intervention necessary. Banning social media for under-15s protects children's futures from addictive platforms designed like slot machines.

Gabriel Attal

Digital paternalism solves nothing and creates a Trojan horse for censorship and surveillance. Real solutions require investing in public health and regulating platforms directly, not imposing bans. This law threatens digital freedom while failing to address the root causes of youth psychological suffering.

Digital paternalism solves nothing and creates a Trojan horse for censorship and surveillance. Real solutions require investing in public health and regulating platforms directly, not imposing bans. This law threatens digital freedom while failing to address the root causes of youth psychological suffering.

Florian Philippot

Arnaud Saint-Martin

France Bans Social Media for Children Under 15

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There is a 26% chance that the EU will require mandatory age verification on social media or AI before 2027, according to the Metaculus prediction community.

There is a 26% chance that the EU will require mandatory age verification on social media or AI before 2027, according to the Metaculus prediction community.

Ludovic MARIN/AFP/Getty Images

France: National Assembly Approves Social Media Ban for Children Under 15

Ludovic MARIN/AFP/Getty Images

France: National Assembly Approves Social Media Ban for Children Under 15

France: National Assembly Approves Social Media Ban for Children Under 15

France: BansNational Assembly Approves Social Media Ban for Children Under 15

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France: National Assembly Approves Social Media Ban for Children Under 15

France: BansNational Assembly Approves Social Media Ban for Children Under 15

The Spin

Metaculus Prediction

The Controversies

Australia

McIntosh

Orlando

Mackey

Commission

Inserra

Sala

Flew

Xintavelonis

Grant

Albanese

Albanese

Koskie

Articles on this story

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