A French parliamentary committee has recommended a nationwide ban on social media access for children under the age of 15, alongside a nighttime digital curfew for teenagers aged 15 to 18.
The proposal follows months of hearings involving families, psychologists, tech executives and social media influencers.
Lawmakers say the move aims to curb the growing mental health crisis linked to prolonged social media use among minors.
Key Proposals include; Total ban on social media platforms for children under 15, Digital curfew for users aged 15–18, restricting access between 10:00 p.m. and 8:00 am, mandatory parental consent for young users attempting to register accounts as well as stricter regulations on platform algorithms and content moderation policies.
President Emmanuel Macron’s administration has already signaled support for age-based restrictions, echoing a similar move by Australia, which is developing legislation to bar users under 16.
Committee chair Arthur Delaporte confirmed he would file a criminal complaint against TikTok, alleging the platform endangered young users’ lives.
The investigation stems from a 2024 lawsuit by seven families, which claimed the platform exposed their children to content that promoted suicide and self-harm.
Delaporte criticized TikTok’s algorithm as “addictive and dangerous,” accusing the company of “active complicity” in exposing minors to harmful content.
Despite TikTok’s claims that it uses AI-powered moderation and removed 98% of harmful content last year, lawmakers argue these efforts are inadequate and easily bypassed.
The report included emotional testimony from Geraldine, the mother of an 18-year-old girl who died by suicide in 2024.
She said her daughter had engaged with self-harm content on TikTok before her death.
“TikTok didn’t kill our daughter, she was already struggling, but the platform didn’t help. It deepened her pain,” she said, while accusing the company of poor content moderation.
TikTok representatives defended the app’s moderation policies during the parliamentary hearings.
However, lawmakers cited leaked internal documents and accused TikTok’s regional head Marlene Masure of misleading the committee under oath about the platform’s knowledge of its algorithm’s harmful effects.
If social media companies fail to comply with European safety regulations within three years, the French government may extend the under-15 ban to all users under 18.
The digital curfew for teens would be enforced through app restrictions during late-night hours.
The proposal has sparked debate over digital rights, enforcement feasibility and the role of tech companies in safeguarding minors.
However, supporters insist that stronger oversight is necessary to protect vulnerable users from the dark side of social media.
