27.01.2026 13:28
The French National Assembly approved a bill banning access to social media platforms for children under the age of 15 with 116 votes in favor. The bill aims to protect children from the risks associated with screens and platforms.
The French National Assembly approved a bill aimed at banning access to social media platforms for children under the age of 15 with 116 votes in favor and 23 votes against.
A new regulation regarding social media platforms has come to the agenda in France. In the lower house, the National Assembly, lawmakers approved a bill that will ban social media use for children under 15. The bill, which has the support of President Emmanuel Macron, was accepted during a night session after long and tense discussions. The regulation presented under the title "Protecting children from screen and platform risks" aims to prohibit access to social network services for those under the age of 15.
EMPHASIS ON AGE VERIFICATION AND MONITORING
During the discussions that started on Monday and ended on Tuesday, lawmakers focused on the "feasibility" of the bill. The government side argued that the regulation should be reshaped in accordance with European Union (EU) law to ensure it does not remain just on paper.
In this context, the responsibility of platforms for age verification, data security, and monitoring methods emerged as key areas of alignment with the EU framework. How age verification will be technically implemented and which system will be used for monitoring is considered the most critical threshold in the implementation of the regulation.
RESTRICTIONS ON MOBILE PHONE USE IN HIGH SCHOOLS
On the other hand, stricter measures regarding mobile phone use in high schools have also come to the agenda of the National Assembly. However, it was reported that during the discussions, the "total ban" approach was softened, and instead, intermediate solutions such as designated areas for phone use in schools or limited use regulations emerged.
THE LEGISLATIVE PROCESS WILL CONTINUE IN THE SENATE
The social media bill will come before the Senate, the upper house of France, before it becomes law. After the Senate's schedule and possible amendments, a target date of "September 2026" has been mentioned for the implementation. However, it is assessed that the implementation timeline may remain controversial until the age verification framework at the EU level is clarified.
PHONE RESTRICTIONS IN SCHOOLS IN FRANCE ALREADY EXIST
Restrictions on mobile phone use in educational institutions have been in place for a long time in France. While there have been restrictions in elementary and middle schools that came into effect earlier, the recent aim is to increase monitoring with the widespread implementation of the "leave your phone all day" practice in middle schools. In high schools, however, mobile phone use largely varies according to the internal regulations of the school administrations.