JANUARY 28, 2026 — France’s National Assembly just made a bold move: banning children under 15 from social media. Lawmakers voted 116 to 23 in favor of the bill, which now heads to the Senate before a final vote. 

The measure comes amid growing alarm over online bullying, mental health struggles, and the addictive grip of platforms like Facebook, TikTok, Snapchat, and YouTube. President Emmanuel Macron himself has pointed to social media as a factor in youth violence, urging France to follow Australia’s lead — where a world-first ban for under-16s took effect last December.

Centrist lawmaker Laure Miller was firm, saying “With this law, we are setting a clear boundary in society and saying social media is not harmless. Our children are reading less, sleeping less, and comparing themselves to one another more. This is a battle for free minds.”

Far-right lawmaker Thierry Perez added, “Social media has allowed everyone to express themselves, but at what cost to our children?”

Public support in France is strong. A Harris Interactive survey last year showed 73% of respondents backed the ban. Enforcement, however, is another story. 

Australia admitted its rollout was “bumpy,” with kids under 16 bragging online about still accessing platforms despite the restrictions. France plans to rely on age-verification systems, but we all know tech-savvy teens can easily find loopholes.

Now here’s the question that hits home: Should the Philippines even consider something like this?

We’re a country where social media is practically the bloodstream of daily life. Filipinos spend some of the highest average hours online globally, and kids here are scrolling before they can even spell their names. We’ve seen the rise of cyberbullying, fake news, and toxic comparisons that eat away at self-esteem. But we’ve also seen social media empower young voices, spark movements, and connect communities.

Would a ban protect Filipino children — or would it silence them? Could our government even enforce such a law, given how deeply embedded social media is in our culture? 

Imagine the backlash from parents who rely on Messenger or Viber to check in on their kids, or from students who use TikTok not just for entertainment but for learning and creative expression.

France is framing this as a “health emergency.” Should we? Or are we too dependent on social media to even imagine life without it?

The debate is worth having. If other countries are already drawing the line, maybe it’s time we ask ourselves: Are we protecting our children, or just feeding them to the algorithm?

(Image: Pexels)