France Announces Plans for Social Media Ban

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France is considering a new law that would prevent children under 15 from using popular social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. With social media becoming more and more common, governments are starting to worry about its impact on young people and are creating laws to address these concerns. This move by France could also affect online gaming within the country.

French President Emmanuel Macron has repeatedly expressed concern about the harmful effects of online platforms on young people. In 2023, following riots sparked by a police shooting, he pointed to social media and video games as contributors to the violence. Now, with these worries increasing, Macron and other French officials are considering stricter measures, potentially including a ban for younger users—similar to what Australia has done.

French Government Will Reportedly Seek to Ban Social Media for Users Under 15 in 2026

Reports surfaced in France at the end of December that President Macron’s government is preparing to propose a law in early January that would restrict access to social media platforms like TikTok, Snapchat, and Instagram. If passed, the law, similar to one enacted in Australia in 2024, would block users under the age of 15 from accessing these sites, starting in September 2026. While Macron hasn’t officially announced the plan, he signaled his intention to protect young people from the harms of social media and screens in a recent speech, and the proposed law would fit with his administration’s existing policies.

I’m hearing that France is considering taking its ban on phones in schools even further! They’ve already had a rule in place for younger students since 2018, and now it sounds like they want to include high schoolers too. It’s interesting because they already make social media companies get permission from parents for kids under 15, so this feels like a natural next step. Honestly, I’m a little curious about how they’d actually make this work, and exactly how strict it’ll be. I’m also wondering how it’ll affect gaming. Australia exempted platforms like Xbox and PlayStation from a similar ban, but with social media and gaming becoming so connected, it’s hard to say how France will handle video games with this new rule.

Image via the Roblox Corporation

Several gaming platforms could be affected by potential social media bans. Nine countries have already blocked Roblox, usually due to worries about protecting children, though some have also cited concerns regarding the LGBTQIA+ community, which faces legal challenges in certain places. It’s still too soon to know how the proposed French law will impact gaming, as the specific details haven’t been released and it’s unclear whether platforms like Roblox or PlayStation Network will be included.

Image via Sandfall Interactive

Gamers might find some reassurance in President Macron’s past support for video games as an art form. He recently commended Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 for its achievements, highlighting it as a showcase of French innovation. However, because many games include social features, it’s uncertain how a potential ban would be applied. We should learn more official details soon, which will clarify what this means for social media and gaming in France.

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2026-01-01 23:45