France may soon ban children under 15 from social media like facebook, Twitter and Instagram. As social media plays an increasingly central role in life around the world, some governments have become wary of the effects these platforms can have on young people, leading to an increase in legislation against them. It now looks like France is joining 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 to negatively influence the country's youth. In 2023, Macron accused social media and video games of promoting violence after riots began sweeping France in response to the shooting death of a 17-year-old. As these concerns about social sites grow, the president and other members of the French government may take a tougher stance against them by following Australia's example of an outright ban on younger users.
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On December 31, local French publications began reporting that Macron's government plans to introduce a bill for a social media ban in early January, which will take effect in September 2026. The law, like the social media ban Australia passed in 2024, would make sites like TikTok, Snapchat and Instagram completely inaccessible to younger teenagers, although it would be slightly broader than anyone under 5, but instead of everyone under 5. 16. Although Macron has not formally announced such a law yet, he mentioned that he wanted to “protect our children and teenagers from social media and screens” in a New Year's address, and it would be in line with policies already adopted by the current French administration.
The reported ban would also expand restrictions on cellphones in the French school system. France has banned phones in elementary and middle school classrooms since 2018, but this new legislation is likely aimed at setting the same limit for 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 a complete ban would have an existing legal basis to extend. However, it is unclear how the nation would enforce the ban or how far it would go. Gaming platforms such as Xbox Live and PlayStation Network were spared from Australia's ban, but as the lines between social media and gaming blur, it is uncertain how such legislation would affect video games.
Some gaming services seem like easy targets for a blanket social media ban. At least nine countries have banned it Roblox for various reasons, often citing child endangerment concerns, although some nations have pointed to issues related to the LGBTQIA+ community, who also face legal barriers in some areas. At the moment, however, it's too early to say anything for sure about the French law's impact on gaming, as draft legislation has yet to surface, and there's currently no word on the possibility of RobloxPSN or other game-related services that fall under the ban.
Gamers may be able to rely on the fact that Macron has shown appreciation for video games as an art form in the past. The French president recently paid tribute Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 for its impressive success, calling it a “shining example of French audacity and creativity.” Still, with many games and game-adjacent platforms having social features, it's unclear where the lines will be drawn if a ban goes into effect. If current reports are correct, it shouldn't be long before official details emerge as the future of social media and gaming in the country becomes clearer.
Source: Reuters
