French Lawmakers Move to Ban Social Media for Children Under 15
French lawmakers have recently approved a bill aimed at banning children under the age of 15 from using social media platforms, a move driven by growing concerns about the impact of online content on youth mental health, cyberbullying and screen addiction. The lower house of the French Parliament passed the legislation with broad support, reflecting increasing public anxiety over the effects of social networks on younger generations. The bill also proposes extending existing restrictions on mobile phone use within schools to include high schools, underlining a broader push to limit digital distractions.
Proponents of the measure, including President Emmanuel Macron, argue that early exposure to social media can harm children’s emotional well-being and development — a perspective backed by French health authorities reporting high rates of smartphone use among minors and associated negative outcomes. Critics, however, warn that such broad restrictions risk infringing on personal freedoms and may be difficult to enforce effectively.
A key element of the proposed law is the requirement for age-verification mechanisms by platforms to ensure compliance, although implementation challenges remain a concern. Once finalized in the Senate and enacted, the legislation would be among the strictest social media access laws in Europe.
Australia’s Precedent: A World-First Social Media Age Ban
France’s initiative follows a similar, landmark legal framework adopted by Australia. In December 2024, the Australian Parliament passed the Online Safety Amendment (Social Media Minimum Age) Act 2024, amending the existing Online Safety Act. This law makes it illegal for children under the age of 16 to hold accounts on major social media platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok, Twitter and YouTube, and came into effect in December 2025.
Enforcement in Australia places the onus on social media companies to implement reasonable measures to prevent under-16s from accessing their services, with substantial fines for non-compliance. The law also allows exemptions for certain services focused on education or basic communication, such as YouTube Kids, Google Classroom, and messaging platforms used for essential functions.
Australia’s approach has already led to the removal or blocking of millions of underage accounts, prompting intense policy debate over digital privacy, children’s rights and the technical feasibility of effective age verification.
Lessons for Cyprus (and Beyond)
Cyprus — like many EU member states — is currently grappling with how best to protect minors online while balancing rights to education, freedom of expression and digital participation. Several key takeaways from the French and Australian experiences could inform future Cypriot policy discussions:
1. Age Verification Standards:
Australia’s law hinges on requiring platforms to take “reasonable steps” to verify age. Cyprus could consider clear age-verification guidelines tied to robust data protection safeguards, ensuring compliance without over-intrusive personal data collection.
2. Targeted Harm Prevention:
Both France and Australia have framed age limits as part of broader online safety and mental health strategies — not just access limitations. Cyprus could integrate social media age rules with initiatives supporting digital literacy and parental education.
3. Proportionality and Human Rights:
While France’s bill is strict, its implementation raises questions about freedom and equality of access. Cyprus can study European jurisprudence on proportionality and fundamental rights to shape any restrictions in a way that balances protection with freedom.
4. Stakeholder Engagement:
Australia’s rollout highlighted technical challenges and industry pushback. Early consultation with tech platforms, civil society, parents and youth organisations could help Cyprus design a practical, technologically feasible approach before legislating.
5. EU Alignment:
As an EU Member State, Cyprus would need to ensure any age-related digital legislation is compatible with the Digital Services Act (DSA) and broader EU digital policy frameworks, which are increasingly emphasising user safety and minimising online harms.
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