France may soon ban children under 15 from sites like social media facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. As social media play an increasingly central role in life around the world, some governments have become aware of the effects these platforms can have on young people, leading to increased legislation against them. Now it looks like France has joined the movement against Facebook and its ilk, which could call into question the future of online gaming in the country.
French President Emmanuel Macron has a history of calling out online platforms for their potential negative influence on the nation's youth. In 2023, Macron blamed social media and video games for fueling violence after riots broke out across France in response to the fatal shooting of a 17-year-old teenager. As these concerns grow over social sites, the president and other members of the French government may be taking a hard line against them, following Australia's example of outright bans for young users.
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On December 31, local French publications began reporting that Macron's government plans to submit a draft law to ban social media in early January, which will take effect in September 2026. Laws like the social media ban passed by Australia in 2024 would make sites like TikTok, Snapchat and Instagram completely accessible to underage teens, though it would apply to everyone. While Macron has not formally announced such a law, he noted in his New Year's Eve address that he wants to “protect our children and teenagers from social media and screens,” and that it would be consistent with policies implemented by the current French administration.
The reported ban would also extend restrictions on mobile phones in the French school system. France has banned phones in primary and secondary school classrooms since 2018, but this new law seeks to bring similar limits to high schools. It's also worth noting that France already requires social media platforms to obtain parental consent to create accounts for users under the age of 15, so there would be an existing legal basis to expand to a full ban. However, it is unclear how the nation will enforce the ban or how far it will go. Gaming platforms such as Xbox Live and PlayStation Network were spared the Australian ban, but as the line between social media and gaming blurs, it is uncertain how such legislation would affect video games.
Some gaming services seem like easy targets for general social media bans. At least nine countries have banned it Roblox For a variety of reasons, often citing child endangerment concerns, some countries have pointed to issues related to the LGBTQIA+ community, which also face legal barriers in some areas. For now, though, it's too early to say anything definitive about the French law's impact on gaming, as the draft law has yet to arrive, and there's no word on the current possibility. RobloxPSN, or other gaming-related services fall under the ban.
Gamers may be able to take some confidence in the fact that Macron has previously shown an appreciation for video games as an art form. The French president recently praised Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 For its impressive success, it has been called “a shining example of French courage and creativity”. Still, with many games and gaming-rich platforms having social features, it's unclear where the lines would be drawn if a ban were to be implemented. If recent reports are correct, it shouldn't be long before official details emerge, at which point the future of social media and gaming in the country will become clear.
Source: Reuters
