Kids Free Zone - Social Media Bans for Minors Take Hold Around the Globe

Social media apps face scrutiny in European courts. Courtesy of Wikimedia Commons.

In January 2026, lawmakers in France’s National Assembly moved forward a bill that would ban children under the age of fifteen from using social media and the use of phones in schools in a 130-21 vote. Social media is easily accessible by all people, especially minors, with that access being cited as the source of various negative effects to the age group.

French President Emmanuel Macron has sourced minor’s access to social media as a cause in the rise in rates of violence among the age group. The ban is set to take effect as the new school year begins in September. Support for the measure has come from all areas of the political spectrum. France has left enforcement of the ban to Brussels, but specifics on their plans are still unclear. Macron argued that the ban on social media would make France more independent from both American and Chinese platforms and algorithms, with former French Prime Minister Gabriel Attal stating that accounts that do not meet the age requirements will be deleted by December 31, 2026.

Social media bans are similar to those of drug or alcohol bans, preventing minors from having access to content that they are not properly mature enough for. Supporters of these bans have emphasized the need to develop in-person skills and not have their missteps be broadcast across the globe. However, opponents say that a social media ban would not have the desired effect, as mental health impact is much more limited than believed, and a ban would be counterintuitive. Opponents also argue that a social media ban would be too hard to enforce, and that such a ban would drive children towards sites that could be much more harmful than mainstream social media sites.

In Australia, a law was passed that banned those under 16 from having access to social media. The ban has led to nearly five million accounts to be deleted or deactivated once put into effect. The Australian law was a world first, with social media companies facing penalties of up to 33 million United States dollars if they did not take the steps to limit access to their apps. Australia’s ban was driven in most part by the worries over the harmful effects of online communities on child safety and mental health.

United Kingdom Prime Minister Keir Starmer has floated a similar ban, citing excessive amounts of time spent in front of screens by those under 16. Previously Starmer opposed such a ban, opting for a control over the content that minors see, rather than a full ban on the access to social media. The educational value of the apps also added to his opposition, saying that his children have learned valuable information from social media. Starmer has faced opposition from members of his own party, the Labour party, on the issue, with members stating that Starmer did not see the full potential of the ban and that he does not truly see the negative effects of minors’ access to social media.

A global survey of thirty countries found that a majority of people, 65%, are in favor of banning social media for those under 14. With that, in all but one country surveyed, there was a majority for banning. Global initiatives on removing access to social media and technology for minors have been introduced in countries around the globe, with South Korea banning phones in classrooms. In many countries, such as Belgium, limitations on access to social media have long been in play, with social media platforms themselves requiring the consent of parents when signing up for a social media account if under the age of thirteen, with other nations typically requiring users to be thirteen to sign up without parent permission.

President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, has backed regulation similar to that of Australia, seeking to ban children under sixteen from social media. The move comes as harmful content and addictive social media algorithms have earned increasing scrutinization from politicians in Europe. The European Commission’s regulation would ban those under thirteen from social media while requiring those under sixteen to require parental consent for access to social media.

Following in the footsteps of Australia, France is set to impose one of the world’s first social media bans for minors, resting on the support of protecting children’s mental health and preventing children from accessing harmful content and getting stuck in addicting algorithms. With increasing amounts of countries seeking to adopt various kinds of social media limitations, the success of these social media bans has yet to be shown, and if they will have any notable effect on the quality of life of those who are banned.