A French parliamentary commission investigating the psychological impact of TikTok has recommended banning social media use for children under 15 and implementing a “digital curfew” for teenagers aged 15 to 18, according to a report released Thursday.
Laure Miller, a lawmaker and rapporteur for the commission, told AFP, “This recommendation sends a clear signal to children and parents that before the age of 15, social media is not harmless.”
The commission was established in March following lawsuits filed in late 2024 by seven families against TikTok, accusing the platform of exposing children to content that may encourage self-harm or suicide.
The inquiry heard testimonies from affected families, social media executives, and influencers.
Geraldine, 52, lost her 18-year-old daughter Penelope to suicide. After her daughter’s death, Geraldine discovered that Penelope had posted and viewed videos depicting self-harm on TikTok.
“It’s very difficult for us as parents to monitor all this,” she said, requesting her last name be withheld.
TikTok has responded by emphasizing that protecting young users is “its top priority,” claiming that it removes over 95 percent of inappropriate content within 24 hours and that 90 percent of flagged content is removed before being viewed even once.
In addition to the ban for children under 15, the commission recommended that social media access be restricted for 15- to 18-year-olds between 10:00 pm and 8:00 am. It also suggested that if platforms fail to comply with the EU Digital Services Act within three years, social media use could be banned for all minors under 18.
The commission further proposed a public awareness campaign on social media risks and the creation of a “digital negligence offence” to hold parents accountable for irresponsible online oversight.
Miller noted that recent European Commission guidelines have opened the door for national regulation, with age verification at registration seen as a critical measure.
However, she acknowledged challenges, including platform reluctance, technical limitations, and concerns over personal freedoms.
