France moves to ban social media for children under

France’s National Assembly has approved in a first reading a bill that would ban social media access for children under the age of 15, Franceinfo reports. The vote took place overnight on January 27, with 116 lawmakers backing the proposal.

President Emmanuel Macron has urged the government to fast-track the legislation. He is pushing for the ban to take effect before September 1, 2026 — in time for the start of the new school year.

“The brains of our children and our teenagers are not for sale,” Macron wrote on X.

Macron first announced plans to restrict children’s access to social platforms in June 2025. He has argued that social media poses risks to young people’s mental health, particularly for those who are more vulnerable to social pressure and violent content.

The bill consists of two parts. The second would introduce a ban on mobile phone use in middle schools.

A global shift toward tighter restrictions

France’s move reflects a broader global trend toward limiting children’s access to social media. An increasing number of countries are introducing restrictions amid growing scientific evidence linking excessive smartphone use to declining mental health among teenagers.

Australia has taken the lead, becoming the first country to pass a law banning social media for children under 16. Despite criticism from teenagers and civil rights groups, the initiative has encouraged other governments to pursue similar measures.

South Korea has already banned mobile phone use in schools.

Denmark plans to introduce a minimum age of 15 for access to social platforms.

Brazil has opted for a more moderate approach, requiring parental controls for accounts belonging to children under 16 and allowing families to set their own restrictions.

The European Union has adopted a resolution calling for parental consent when children register on social platforms. While non-binding, the measure signals how seriously European policymakers are treating the issue.

The United States has so far avoided federal-level initiatives. However, individual states are actively experimenting with online age-verification laws, and a Supreme Court ruling on age checks for adult websites could set a precedent for social media platforms.

UK House of Lords votes to restrict VPN access for children

The UK House of Lords has backed an amendment to the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill that would ban VPN services from being provided to minors.

Durov's CodeIgor Savkin