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France Bans Social Media for Under-15s

France Bans Social Media for Kids Under 15-15s

France Bans Social Media for Under-15s
Above: Three teenage boys look at their smartphone screens near Morzine, France, on April 11. Image credit: Matt Cardy/Getty Images

The Spin


This step protects children from real harm. Platforms like TikTok and Instagram have been linked to reduced self-esteem, self-harm and even teen suicides, and governments have a duty to act. France is setting the standard the rest of Europe should follow.

This sounds protective, but the real consequence is forcing everyone to submit photo ID just to access a platform. That's a government surveillance framework masked as child safety. Once universal age verification is normalized, digital tracking of all citizens becomes the new baseline.

Teen social media bans may appear protective, but they risk distracting society from deeper problems. Adults, schools, communities and technology companies share responsibility for supporting young people. Lasting solutions require safer platforms, stronger relationships and richer offline opportunities, not simply restricting teenagers' online access.


Metaculus Prediction

There's a 45% chance that any social media account will reach 1 billion followers before 2031, according to the Metaculus prediction community.

© 2026 Improve the News Foundation. All rights reserved.Version 7.4.1

© 2026 Improve the News Foundation.

All rights reserved.

Version 7.4.1