France Warns of Social Media Harm to Teens as Lawmakers Consider Ban for Under-15s

PARIS, Jan 13: France’s health watchdog has issued a warning that social media poses significant risks to the mental health of adolescents, particularly girls, as the country considers legislation to ban children under 15 from accessing major platforms.

The announcement follows the release of a five-year expert review by the French public health agency ANSES, which examined 1,000 studies on social media and youth mental health. While social media is not the sole cause of declining adolescent mental well-being, the report highlighted numerous well-documented negative effects.

“Social media can create an unprecedented echo chamber that reinforces stereotypes, encourages risky behaviors, and promotes cyberbullying,” the ANSES report stated. Digitally altered images can also foster unrealistic beauty standards, leading to low self-esteem, depression, and eating disorders, particularly among girls.

The report noted that girls, who use social media more than boys, are disproportionately affected by gender-based social pressures. Other vulnerable groups include LGBT youth and adolescents with pre-existing mental health conditions.

ANSES recommended that children should only have access to platforms “designed and configured to protect their health,” which would require tech companies to adjust algorithms, persuasive techniques, and default settings to minimize harm.

The move comes as France debates two bills, including one supported by President Emmanuel Macron, aimed at restricting social media use for those under 15.

The announcement follows Australia’s decision last month to ban platforms such as Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube for users under 16. Meta, the parent company of Instagram and Facebook, has urged Australia to reconsider the ban, warning that it could isolate teens and push them toward less regulated corners of the internet.

Meanwhile, Elon Musk’s platform X, formerly Twitter, is facing global criticism for allowing its AI chatbot Grok to create sexualized images of women and children based on simple prompts, raising additional concerns over online safety.

The ANSES findings are expected to play a central role in shaping the ongoing debate in France over the balance between digital access and adolescent mental health.