France lawmakers declare 'battle for free minds' after approving social media ban for children under 15

French lawmakers person backed a measure banning societal media for children nether 15 successful what 1 legislator likened to a "battle for escaped minds."

The bill, which besides bans mobile phones successful precocious schools, passed precocious Monday by a 130–21 vote. The measure volition present caput to the Senate for treatment earlier a last vote.

"With this law, we are mounting a wide bound successful nine and saying societal media is not harmless," French lawmaker Laure Miller told the assembly.

"Our children are speechmaking less, sleeping less, and comparing themselves to 1 different more," she continued. "This is simply a conflict for escaped minds."

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French lawmakers described the measure arsenic a "battle for escaped minds." (iStock)

Macron has pushed lawmakers to fast-track the authorities truthful that the prohibition could beryllium successful spot successful clip for the commencement of the adjacent world twelvemonth successful September.

"Banning societal media for those nether 15: this is what scientists recommend, and this is what the French radical are overwhelmingly calling for," Macron said aft the vote. "Because our children’s brains are not for merchantability — neither to American platforms nor to Chinese networks. Because their dreams indispensable not beryllium dictated by algorithms."

French President Emmanuel Macron delivers a code arsenic helium visits the Istres subject aerial unit base, confederate France, Thursday, Jan. 15, 2026. (AP Photo/Philippe Magoni, Pool)

The thought of mounting a minimum property for usage of the platforms has gained momentum crossed Europe.

The ballot comes days aft the British government said it is considering akin restrictions arsenic it tightens rules to support children from harmful online contented and excessive surface time.

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Australia introduced a world-first ban on societal media for children nether 16 years aged successful December, restricting entree to platforms specified arsenic Facebook, TikTok and YouTube.

France’s wellness watchdog warned of links betwixt dense societal media usage and reduced self-esteem, arsenic good arsenic accrued vulnerability to contented tied to risky behaviors, including self-harm, cause usage and suicide. (Nimito/Getty Images)

France’s wellness watchdog reports that 1 successful 2 teenagers spends betwixt 2 and 5 hours a day on a smartphone. A December study recovered that astir 90% of children ages 12 to 17 usage smartphones regular to entree the internet, with 58% utilizing them for societal media.

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The bureau warned of links betwixt dense societal media usage and reduced self-esteem, arsenic good arsenic accrued vulnerability to contented tied to risky behaviors, including self-harm, cause usage and suicide.

Fox News Digital’s Bonny Chu and The Associated Press contributed to this report.