Teens on France's social media ban for under-15s: 'We're going back to the Stone Age'

In the courtyard of the Jean-Mermoz Vocational High School, in Montsoult, France, January 14, 2026. BERTRAND GUAY/AFP

The direction is clear: Under the law passed on January 26 in the Assemblée Nationale, France is moving toward banning social media for those under age 15. The government wants teenagers and internet users across the country to comply, starting this September, with age-verification procedures to access certain major platforms (TikTok, Instagram, Snapchat, Facebook and likely some features of WhatsApp and Roblox as well).

This law is about to disrupt the digital communication habits of a significant portion of French youth. Le Monde asked several teenagers in the Paris region aged 13 to 15 in January and February what they thought about the measure.

Adults are 'overreacting'

Enola, an eighth grade student in Vélizy, summed up the general feeling: "I'm not going to cry about it, but it's going to be less convenient for some things." "For me, it's going to be tough. TikTok, Snapchat... I spend, I don't know... two hours a day on them? We won't be able to do anything anymore, we're going back to the Stone Age," lamented Benjamin, age 13, who lives in the same town. "If we want to play [football], we won't be able to organize it. What will we do? Send letters instead?" he joked.