France Advances Social Media Ban for Under-15s as Global Trend Accelerates

France's National Assembly has taken a decisive step toward implementing one of the world's most comprehensive social media restrictions for minors, approving legislation that would ban platforms like TikTok, Instagram, and Snapchat for users under 15.The lower house voted 116-23 in favor of the bill during an overnight session from Monday to Tuesday, marking what President Emmanuel Macron called a "major step" in protecting children's mental health from what he termed exploitative digital platforms.The legislation now advances to the Senate for final approval, with Macron pushing for fast-track procedures to implement the ban by the start of the new school year on September 1. "Our children's brains are not for sale," Macron declared on social media following the vote.Under the proposed framework, France's media regulator would compile lists of harmful social networks subject to complete bans for under-15s, while less harmful platforms would require explicit parental consent. The bill also extends existing mobile phone prohibitions to senior schools (lycées).The French initiative reflects a broader global shift toward digital child protection, following Australia's similar legislation enacted last year. Denmark, Greece, Spain, and Ireland are reportedly considering comparable measures, while the UK government recently launched consultations on restricting social media access for under-16s.MP Laure Miller, who spearheaded the legislation after chairing a parliamentary inquiry into TikTok's psychological effects, told Le Monde: "These networks promised to bring people together. They pulled them apart. They promised to inform. They saturated us with information."The bill's progression comes as Macron seeks to regain domestic political momentum following the hung parliament resulting from his 2024 election gamble. The social media restriction has provided rare bipartisan support in an otherwise fractured political landscape.Implementation challenges remain significant, particularly regarding age verification mechanisms. France already requires age verification for accessing online pornography, providing a potential technical framework. However, a previous 2023 attempt at similar legislation was struck down by courts for violating European law.The government has redrafted the current bill to address concerns raised by the Council of State regarding compliance with French and European legal frameworks. If approved by the Senate, France would join Australia as one of the few nations to implement comprehensive age-based social media restrictions.The legislation represents a significant shift in how democratic governments approach platform regulation, moving beyond content moderation to fundamental access restrictions based on developmental concerns.