Overview
- Lawmakers voted 130–21 to advance a bill barring under-15s from accessing social networks and obliging platforms to deploy robust age‑verification systems.
- The government proposes blocking new underage accounts from September 1, 2026 and deactivating existing ones by January 1, 2027 if the law is enacted.
- The package also strengthens a ban on smartphones in upper secondary schools, extending restrictions already in place in lower grades.
- President Emmanuel Macron endorsed the push, citing public health concerns highlighted by ANSES reports linking platforms like TikTok, Snapchat and Instagram to harms among adolescents.
- Opposition figures questioned enforceability and privacy around age checks, and the plan must align with the EU Digital Services framework as Brussels considers stricter bloc‑wide rules following Australia’s recent under‑16 ban.