In a decisive step toward shielding the youngest members of society from the potential harms of social media, France’s National Assembly has passed landmark legislation to prohibit children under the age of fifteen from using social networking services. The bill, championed by President Emmanuel Macron, now heads to the Senate and is expected to take effect in time for the next school year in September.
The Scope of the New Law
The law, approved by a strong majority in the lower house, reflects a growing concern among policymakers, health professionals, educators, and families that the early immersion of children in digital platforms poses real risks to mental and emotional well-being. President Macron framed the effort in moral terms, asserting that the developing minds and emotions of children are not “for sale” to be manipulated by the persuasive design and algorithmic incentives of tech giants.
Under the proposed legislation, children under fifteen will be banned from accessing social media services such as TikTok, Instagram, Snapchat, and Facebook unless parental consent mechanisms are robustly implemented. The bill also extends existing regulations on mobile phone use in junior schools to include high schools, a further effort to reduce the omnipresence of screens in adolescents’ daily lives.
Concerns Driving the Ban
Supporters of the ban point to a wide range of concerns. Studies by French public health authorities have found that an overwhelming majority of young people use smartphones daily, and a significant portion of that time is spent on social networks. Associated harms include diminished self-esteem, disrupted sleep, exposure to violent or self-destructive content, and increased vulnerability to cyberbullying. Some families in France have even pursued legal action against social media companies, linking dangerous content to tragic outcomes among youth.
Public backing for such measures is substantial. Surveys indicate that most French adults support setting age limits for social media use as a means to protect children’s psychological and social development, even as critics warn that enforcement will be challenging and that such bans tread close to government overreach.
Learning from the Australian Precedent
France is not alone in exploring these measures. Australia enacted a similar ban last year for individuals under sixteen, marking a significant precedent. In Australia, the legislation is credited with prompting social media companies to improve parental controls, adjust algorithms targeting minors, and implement stricter age verification measures. While challenges remain in enforcement, the Australian experience provides France and other nations with lessons on how policy, parental guidance, and platform accountability can work together to create safer digital spaces for children.
A Catholic Perspective on Digital Responsibility
The move raises important moral and cultural questions for Catholic professionals engaged in education, healthcare, law, and family ministry. At its core is the perennial Christian commitment to the dignity of the human person, especially the most vulnerable. Children should be welcomed and protected as gifts from God, not treated as commodities to be targeted by persuasive technology designed for profit. Pope Saint John Paul II’s teaching on the human person and technology emphasizes that media must always be ordered to the genuine good of the human person and the flourishing of authentic relationships. Online environments that exploit youthful curiosity and insecurity for commercial gain stand in tension with this vision of human flourishing.
From the perspective of Catholic social thought, public policy should cultivate conditions in which children can grow in virtue, community, and authentic freedom. If unrestricted access to social media undermines the formation of conscience, fosters envy and isolation, or distracts from stable friendships and family bonds, then prudent regulation becomes an expression of the common good. At the same time, Catholics must weigh concerns about individual freedom, subsidiarity of parental authority, and the potential for well-intentioned laws to overstep into personal responsibility.
Practical Implications for Families and Professionals
Catholic professionals who work with families and youth can use this moment to advocate for balanced approaches that support healthy digital habits. This includes equipping parents with resources to guide their children’s online engagement, promoting media literacy in schools, and encouraging platforms to adopt designs that respect human dignity rather than exploit psychological vulnerabilities.
Protecting the young is not merely a matter of policy. It is part of a larger cultural conversation about how humanity uses technology in ways that either nurture or erode the moral and spiritual growth of the next generation. France’s move to restrict social media for under-fifteen-year-olds highlights the urgency of this conversation and invites Catholic professionals everywhere to engage thoughtfully and charitably in shaping the digital future for children.
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