France Moves To Ban Social Media For Under-15s: “Digital Paternalism” Or Child Safety?

PARIS — In a move that signals an escalating global war on “screen addiction,” the French National Assembly voted 130 to 21 early this morning, Tuesday, January 27, 2026, to ban children under 15 from using social media platforms.

The legislation, a core campaign pledge of President Emmanuel Macron, seeks to curb the mental health crisis among adolescents and “reclaim the attention” of the youth from foreign-owned algorithms. If passed by the Senate, France will become the second country in the world to implement a total age-based social media ban, following Australia’s under-16 ban enacted last month.

1. Key Provisions of the Bill

The bill is part of a broader “digital sobriety” strategy for the 2026 academic year:

• The Ban: Access to social networking services (TikTok, Instagram, Snapchat, etc.) is prohibited for minors under 15.
• Exemptions: Online encyclopedias (like Wikipedia) and educational or scientific platforms are excluded to ensure students still have access to knowledge.
• High School Phone Ban: The legislation also extends France’s existing mobile phone ban in middle schools (ages 11–15) to cover all high schools (up to age 18).
• Deactivation Deadline: Existing accounts belonging to under-15s must be deactivated by December 31, 2026.

2. “Our Children’s Brains are Not for Sale”

President Macron has been the most vocal proponent of the measure, using increasingly sharp rhetoric against big tech:

“The emotions of our children and teenagers are not for sale or to be manipulated, either by American platforms or Chinese algorithms,” Macron stated in a video broadcast on Saturday.

The move follows a report by France’s health watchdog, ANSES, which warned that excessive social media use is directly linked to sleep disorders, cyberbullying, and declining mental health, particularly among young girls.

3. The Enforcement Challenge: How Will it Work?

Critics, including the hard-left France Unbowed (LFI) and various child protection associations, have called the ban “overly simplistic.” The biggest hurdle remains age verification:

• Privacy Concerns: To enforce the ban, platforms must verify user ages without compromising data privacy. France is currently piloting Zero-Knowledge Proof (ZKP) technology, which allows a user to prove they are over 15 without revealing their actual identity or birthdate to the platform.
• Platform Responsibility: The bill places the burden of proof on the tech giants. Companies failing to comply could face significant financial penalties under upcoming European-aligned regulations.

Comparing Global Social Media Restrictions (2026)