A French parliamentary committee has recommended a sweeping crackdown on young people’s use of social media, urging a full ban for children under 15 and a nighttime “digital curfew” for those aged 15 to 18.
The proposals follow months of hearings with families, social media executives, and influencers. Lawmakers argue that addictive algorithms and insufficient moderation are putting young users at serious risk.
Committee chief Arthur Delaporte said he will also file a criminal complaint against TikTok, accusing the platform of “endangering the lives” of minors. The inquiry was originally launched after lawsuits by families who alleged TikTok exposed their children to harmful content linked to suicide.
The report accuses TikTok of actively fueling harmful behavior, despite the company’s claims that its AI moderation systems catch 98% of violations in France. Lawmakers said those safeguards are “easy to circumvent” and that dangerous content continues to thrive.
President Emmanuel Macron’s office has already signaled support for tighter restrictions, noting that Australia is drafting a similar ban for children under 16. The committee suggested expanding restrictions to all under-18s within three years if platforms fail to comply with European laws.
If implemented, the proposed “digital curfew” would block teenagers from accessing social media between 10 p.m. and 8 a.m.
