French government moves to ban social media for kids

The French government is gearing up to ban social media for under-15s, citing concerns over youth overexposure to screens and links to violent behavior, following the fatal stabbing of a teaching assistant by a 14-year-old student in eastern France on 10 June .

The Education Minister said that there is a need to “protect our young people from overexposure to screens” as authorities implement stricter digital containment measures. President Emmanuel Macron has proposed EU-wide action, backing a minimum social media age of 15 and seeking to make France act if Brussels stalls.

According to The Guardian, the incident took place during a routine bag check outside Nogent Middle School, where a 14-year-old student fatally stabbed a 31-year-old teaching assistant. The student, reportedly previously serving as an anti-bullying rep, was arrested on-site. The killing has intensified public concern around school safety and digital influences

This move, RFI reports, builds on France’s earlier efforts: since 2023, children under 15 have needed parental approval to join social networks. The government has also trialed “digital pauses” in schools—requiring cellphone-free classrooms—and commissioned expert reviews recommending no phones until age 11, and restricted screen use even for younger children.