On March 25 and 26, two major decisions were rendered in the United States against several digital platforms for their deleterious effects on minors. At the same time in France, the Ministry of National Education forwarded a report to the Paris Public Prosecutor's Office in accordance with Article 40 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, as part of the ongoing investigation into the actions of the social network TikTok…
On March 25, 2026, in Los Angeles, a jury ruled that Instagram and YouTube could be held responsible for the addictive nature of their platforms and the mental health issues of a Californian teenager. The plaintiff, Kaley G., explained that she started watching videos on YouTube at the age of 6 before creating her own Instagram account at 9, bypassing all parental controls despite them being in place. This led to a strong addiction to social networks and a deterioration of her mental health… and an unprecedented conviction: $6 million (approximately €5.2 million) in damages. The day before, a New Mexico jury had ordered Meta (owner of Instagram, Facebook, and WhatsApp) to pay $375 million in damages, notably for exposing minors to sexual content and minimizing the risks associated with using their platforms. This judgment followed a state investigation and was based, in part, on the creation of fake children's accounts to observe the solicitations received… Both decisions are under appeal…
Meanwhile in France… a rebellion against TikTok is organizing
In France, things are also starting to move. But here, it is the TikTok platform that is being questioned. In March 2025, a parliamentary inquiry commission into the psychological effects of this social network on minors, led by Deputy Arthur Delaporte, was launched. This was a first step before the opening of a preliminary investigation, this time by the Paris public prosecutor's office. Strong arguments that convinced the judiciary to delve into the subject included: easier exposure of young people to certain sensitive content; mechanisms likely to trap vulnerable users in content loops related to suicide, self-harm, or eating disorders. But also questions about moderation and the collection of personal data… A new development on March 26: Edouard Geffray, Minister of National Education, announced that he was taking legal action against TikTok, considering that the platform's algorithm exposes certain minors to dangerous content. As in New Mexico where the state had created fake accounts as part of its investigation, the French Ministry of Education also played the simulation card by posing as a 14-year-old. The result: in less than twenty minutes, this "test" account was exposed to depressive content, self-harm tutorials, and videos inciting suicide. In France, the backlash against TikTok continues, and among its most fervent adversaries is the NGO Amnesty International, whose French branch also highlighted the harmful effects in its 2023 report, titled "Pushed into the darkness"… A title that says a lot…
Towards an intensification of social media regulations
Generally, in France, platform responsibility is primarily governed by regulatory logic; it is the Digital Services Act (DSA), which came into force in 2024 at the European level, that requires large platforms to assess and limit the systemic risks associated with their services, particularly for minors, regarding harmful content, algorithmic operation, and data protection. And, while we do have the law of July 7, 2023, establishing a digital age of majority at 15, which then obliges platforms to obtain parental consent for the registration of younger minors, in practice, it is clear that it remains easy to circumvent the rule. Excuse me, the law. So, a new proposal has emerged and was even adopted at first reading in January 2026, aiming to strengthen this framework by imposing stricter age verification mechanisms, accompanied by financial penalties that can reach 6% of global turnover in case of non-compliance… Unlike recent American procedures, French law does not yet recognize direct platform liability for addiction or mental health issues, the approach being rather to act upstream, through “prevention.”
No social networks before 15: things are moving… (finally!)
What needs to be remembered is that, pending the second reading amendment of the proposed law concerning the prohibition of social networks before the age of 15 (currently only voted on by the National Assembly), the young people concerned can continue to register (with parental consent and their good faith as a guarantee of security when entering all information). But at the end of March, with so many developments, the parliamentary process is entering a new stage as the proposed law is currently being read in the Senate… As of writing, we already know that it has been modified by the commission to distinguish platforms likely to pose a risk to minors (which could be prohibited) from those that would remain accessible with parental agreement. Conclusion: the Senate is therefore opting (for now) for a revised, more nuanced version… Next episode in two days, March 31, when the text will be submitted to the upper house chamber for consideration in public session. A crucial step for this legislative project that the executive hopes to implement from the start of the 2026 academic year. The fact is that if the Senate amends an identical text, definitive adoption could be very quick. Otherwise, a joint parliamentary committee will then have to find a compromise between deputies and senators. Come on, only 48 hours left to learn more. The clock is ticking…
No, our children don't need a smartphone!
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