The National Assembly has approved the main article of a bill that marks a key step in the regulation of social media in France, significantly strengthening access restrictions for minors. Members of Parliament adopted a provision stipulating that "Access to an online social networking service provided by an online platform is prohibited for minors under fifteen years of age."The article was approved by 116 votes to 23 in the chamber.
The bill was introduced by the Ensemble pour la République group and supported by the executive branch. The text aims to introduce into French law a minimum age for accessing social media, with the stated objective of protecting what its supporters describe as "mental health" adolescents and to limit their exposure to the risks associated with intensive use of digital platforms.
A phased implementation schedule announced by the executive branch
If the law were definitively adopted, the ban could apply to the creation of new accounts as early as the start of the 2026 school year. Age verification systems would then be required for all users from January 1, 2027, stated the Minister for Digital Affairs, Anne Le Hénanff.
The government supports accelerating the legislative process to allow for the swift implementation of the new rules. The President Emmanuel Macron has spoken in favor of this tighter timetable, while several countries are examining or implementing comparable measures, notably Australia which has adopted measures concerning those under 16.
A text adjusted to meet European legal constraints
The content of the bill evolved during parliamentary discussions. An earlier version, which directly imposed technical filtering obligations on platforms, had drawn criticism from the Council of State for non-compliance with European law, particularly with regard to the Digital Services Regulation.
The wording adopted by the members of parliament now prohibits access for minors themselves, while providing for certain exceptions. Online encyclopedias and educational directories are not affected by the measure. Private messaging services, such as WhatsApp, are also excluded from the scope of the ban. These adjustments aim to reconcile the objective of protecting young people with the European regulatory framework applicable to digital platforms.
