France is preparing to tighten rules on children’s use of social media, following Australia’s recent decision to limit teen access online. Lawmakers in France have approved a bill that would stop children under 15 from using social media platforms. President Emmanuel Macron has strongly backed the move, saying it is needed to protect children from too much screen exposure.

The bill was passed by the lower house of the French National Assembly after a long overnight debate. Lawmakers voted 130 in favour and 21 against. The proposal will now be sent to the Senate, the upper house, before it can become law.

Macron welcomed the vote and called it a “major step” to safeguard children and teenagers. He shared his reaction in a post on X.

Mobile phones also banned in schools

The proposed law does more than restrict social media. It also includes a ban on mobile phone use in schools. With this decision, France would become the second country to adopt such strict limits, after Australia banned social media use for children under 16 in December.

Macron said the aim is to stop children from being exploited online. “The emotions of our children and teenagers are not for sale or to be manipulated, either by American platforms or Chinese algorithms,” he said in a video message.

How the social media ban would be enforced

If the bill becomes law, the new rules would start with the 2026 school year. The restrictions would apply first to new social media accounts.

Gabriel Attal, the former prime minister and leader of Macron’s Renaissance party in the lower house, said he hopes the Senate will approve the bill by mid-February. That would allow the ban to take effect on September 1.

He explained that social media companies would then be given time to comply. According to Attal, “social media platforms will then have until December 31 to deactivate existing accounts” that do not meet the age requirement.

Focus on mental health and digital influence

Supporters of the bill say the goal is not only to reduce screen time but also to protect young adolescents’ mental health. Attal said the measure would also push back against “a number of powers that, through social media platforms, want to colonise minds”.

He added that France could take a leading role in Europe. “France can be a pioneer in Europe in a month: we can change the lives of our young people and our families, and perhaps also change the destiny of our country in terms of independence,” he said.

The draft law makes some exceptions. Online encyclopedias and educational platforms would not be covered by the ban. At the same time, European authorities are working on an age-verification system that could help enforce the rules in France.

Europe debates tougher rules for minors

The debate is not limited to France. The European Parliament has called for stricter limits across the region. Lawmakers have urged a Europe-wide ban on social media for children under 16.

The proposal reflects growing concern over studies linking heavy social media use to anxiety, depression and cyberbullying among young teens. The resolution received strong backing, passing with 483 votes in favour, 92 against and 86 abstentions.

It calls for banning access to online platforms, video-sharing sites and AI companions for children under 16 without parental consent. It also proposes a complete ban for children younger than 13.

Macron has earlier pushed for EU-level action to block social media for children under 15. However, it remains unclear how such rules would be enforced across the bloc, as individual EU countries currently control age limits.