French Media: France Leads EU with Ban on Social Media Use for Under-15s
The French National Assembly and Senate passed a bill on the evening of July 21, prohibiting minors under the age of 15 from using social media. As a result, France has become the first country in the European Union to implement a social media ban for teenagers. This landmark development has become one of the main topics featured in today’s Wednesday, July 22 edition of major French daily newspapers—including a cover story by the newspaper *La Croix*, which focuses on youth-related issues.
*La Croix* reports that the ban will be implemented in two phases: first, starting September 1, minors under 15 will no longer be allowed to create new social media accounts; second, beginning January 2027, existing social media accounts belonging to minors under 15 will be suspended or shut down. Additionally, the law will prohibit high school students from using mobile phones and require social media platforms to implement age verification measures as mandated.
The report further cites Anne Le Hénaff, Secretary of State for Artificial Intelligence and Digital Affairs in France, who stated: “By limiting continuous screen time, we are protecting adolescents’ attention spans, sleep quality, and mental health. We are also giving them the opportunity to rediscover other forms of social interaction—debate, reading, and face-to-face communication—all of which are foundational to civic awareness. Therefore, this is a responsible measure entirely rooted in the best interests of children.” Previously, similar legislation has already been enacted in several countries, including Australia.
Banning Social Media for Under-15s—But What Then?
The social media ban for minors under 15 is one of the key initiatives championed by President Emmanuel Macron and is considered a milestone piece of legislation. A commentary in *Libération* praises the parliament for passing this ban but emphasizes that society as a whole is deeply addicted to smartphones, and adults must lead by example by putting their devices down.
The editorial questions: How can we trust the effectiveness of a law if it is immediately perceived as unjust by those it aims to protect? Given that the protests from children under 15 are not without reason, such skepticism becomes even more legitimate. “Why us?”—this is a question frequently voiced by young people.
The article continues: We could adopt the most solemn tone and tell them, “This is all for your own good,” exploiting their vulnerability. But isn’t that overly simplistic and blunt? On the other hand, we—adults and parents—daily demonstrate our own addiction to digital devices: scrolling late into the night, panicking when Wi-Fi drops, joining countless WhatsApp groups and creating multiple accounts, obsessively chasing likes. This is nothing short of hypocrisy—a blatant double standard: “The officials may set fire, but commoners may not light a candle.”
*Libération* argues that we should not passively accept this law, but instead collectively view it as an opportunity to launch a broad, inclusive “digital detox” movement. Those over 15, especially adults and parents, should lead by example—consciously disconnecting from electronic devices in front of younger people. This would be both wise and responsible, and would show the world that social connection can take many different forms.
Original source: toutiao.com/article/1871482077035528/
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are solely those of the author.