France proposes a social media ban for kids under 15 and a digital curfew for teens after TikTok probe reveals mental health risks. Action may expand by 2028

France Social Media Ban is quickly becoming a flashpoint in Europe’s digital policy conversation, as a French parliamentary commission recommends sweeping new restrictions on young people’s access to online platforms, particularly TikTok.

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In a report released Thursday, the commission called for an outright ban on social media for children under 15, and a “digital curfew” from 10 p.m. to 8 a.m. for teens aged 15 to 18.

“Before the age of 15, ‘social media’ is not harmless,” said Laure Miller, a French lawmaker and the commission’s rapporteur.

The investigation was launched in March 2025, after seven families sued TikTok following the suicides of their children.

These families allege that the platform exposed their children to harmful, even life-threatening content.

One mother, Geraldine, lost her 18-year-old daughter, Penelope, to suicide. After her death, she discovered disturbing self-harm videos on her daughter’s TikTok account.

“It’s difficult for us as parents to moderate all this,” she told AFP.

TikTok, owned by China-based ByteDance, responded by reiterating that youth safety is its top priority, claiming to remove over 95% of harmful content within 24 hours—most of it before anyone views it.

The France social media ban doesn’t stop at curfews. The commission warns that if platforms fail to meet their legal obligations under the EU’s Digital Services Act (DSA) by 2028, France may push for a total ban on social media for users under 18.

In addition to platform bans and curfews, the commission recommends:

•  A nationwide information campaign on social media risks
•  Legal consequences for “digital negligence” by parents
•  A robust age verification system at account registration

These proposals echo growing concerns across the EU, where countries like Spain and Greece are also demanding stronger protections for minors online.

The debate pits child safety against freedom of expression and privacy, especially when implementing age verification systems.

According to Miller, new European Commission guidance has “opened the door to national regulation,” giving France and other member states the legal room to act more decisively.

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The proposed France social media ban marks a powerful shift in how nations approach online platforms—not just as businesses but as environments that must be held accountable for public health and safety.