French commission recommends banning social media for children under 15
A report from the French Parliament, published Thursday, proposes strict measures to regulate minors’ use of social media. It recommends banning access for those under 15 and introducing a “digital curfew” for 15- to 18-year-olds, prohibiting social media use between 10 p.m. and 8 a.m. The goal: to protect young people from the “algorithmic trap” and the dangers it poses to their mental health.
The initiative follows a parliamentary inquiry launched in March, notably after complaints filed by families against TikTok, accused of exposing their children to harmful content. One complainant, Géraldine, whose daughter died by suicide at 18, denounced the platform’s role in worsening her distress through unmoderated videos promoting self-harm.
Despite TikTok’s claims that youth safety is a priority, lawmakers deemed its actions insufficient. The report highlighted a 26% decrease in the number of French-speaking moderators between September 2023 and December 2024 and criticized moderation rules that are considered easy to bypass.
The report also warned of the harmful effects of social media on minors: attention disorders, decreased self-esteem, disrupted sleep, and confinement in toxic algorithmic bubbles. It even raised the possibility of a total ban on social media for those under 18 if, within three years, platforms still fail to comply with the EU’s Digital Services Act (DSA).
In addition to restrictions, lawmakers recommended a nationwide awareness campaign and the creation of a new offense, “digital negligence,” targeting parents deemed irresponsible in monitoring their children’s online use.
Finally, the report called for stronger age verification at registration—a measure supported by the European Commission despite technical challenges and concerns over excessive restrictions on individual freedoms. These proposals are part of a broader EU-wide push to tighten oversight of minors’ use of social media.
