Social media: can we really remove under-15s from platforms?

Social media has become a space for social interaction, information, and entertainment for teenagers. However, its harmful effects on mental and physical health (addiction, sleep disorders, loss of self-esteem, cyberbullying, etc.) are now well known and widely documented.

On January 26, the Macron-aligned camp announced a proposed law aiming to ban access to social media for minors under the age of 15. Supported by the government and examined under an accelerated procedure in the National Assembly during the night of January 26 to 27, the text highlights a well-known challenge: France already has a law prohibiting the creation of social media accounts for children under 13 (since the implementation of the General Data Protection Regulation in 2018) — a measure that is widely bypassed and difficult to enforce.

The Australian example as a reference

France is not breaking new ground with this law: since December 20, 2025, Australia has banned access to social media for minors under 16. The platforms most used by teenagers (TikTok, Facebook, Instagram, X, YouTube, and Snapchat) are affected, while online encyclopedias and educational directories are exempt.

In just a few months, more than 4.7 million accounts have been blocked. The Meta group removed 544,000 Facebook accounts and 331,000 Instagram accounts belonging to minors. To enforce the ban, platforms are required to verify users’ ages, with fines reaching up to €28 million for non-compliance. This example now serves as a model for French authorities.

How can the ban be implemented in France?

In France, the practical implementation of age verification is still under debate. Two options are currently being considered by the government: facial recognition using artificial intelligence, or the upload of identity documents. This process would be entrusted to a "trusted third party," independent from both the state and the platforms, in order to limit infringements on individual freedoms.

The Regulatory Authority for Audiovisual and Digital Communication (Arcom) will be responsible for ensuring compliance with the ban. In the event of a platform’s failure to comply, Arcom will refer the matter to the relevant authorities, which may impose sanctions of up to 6% of their turnover.

The text also provides for stricter regulation of commercial practices: a ban on advertising social media to minors, including through influencers, and an obligation to accompany any promotion with the warning “products dangerous for under-15s” (according to the wording retained in Article 3bis B of the proposed law). Providers will also have to limit the use of recommendation algorithms likely to harm minors’ mental or physical health.

If the law comes into force on September 1, platforms will have until December 31 to remove non-compliant accounts.

A law that sparks debate and raises limitations

Beyond the practical challenges of implementing this law, its effectiveness and underlying philosophy are also being debated. Initially heavily criticized by the Conseil d’État, the text has been revised multiple times by the Senate’s Committee on Culture, Education, Communication, and Sport. The current version distinguishes between certain social networks deemed dangerous and completely banned for under-15s (such as Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, etc.) and other platforms that would require parental authorization, such as “interpersonal messaging services” (like WhatsApp).

Despite these adjustments, the law remains politically divisive. La France Insoumise denounces it as “digital paternalism,” while environmentalists consider the response too simplistic. Conversely, the text is supported by the Rassemblement National, Les Républicains, and the Horizons party.

Finally, many experts point out the limitations of an approach focused on prohibition. The Australian experience shows that teenagers quickly bypass such restrictions, making their usage more hidden and sometimes riskier. Without a long-term educational policy, a central question remains: what happens once they turn 15?

References:

• Vie Publique

  Protecting minors from the risks of social media: proposed law

• Senate

  Proposed law to protect minors from risks associated with social media use

• Parents

  What could a ban on social media for under-15s look like in France?

• Conseil d’État

  Opinion on a proposed law to protect minors from risks related to social media use

• France Culture

  Social media: Australia tests a ban for under-16s, France observes

• Franceinfo

  Two months after banning social media for under-16s in Australia, Snapchat has already blocked 415,000 users