France is preparing to ban children under the age of 15 from using social media platforms and to prohibit mobile phones in high schools from September 2026, local media reported on Wednesday. The proposals reflect growing public concern over the effects of social media and screen time on children’s mental health and behaviour.
According to Le Monde and France Info, President Emmanuel Macron’s government is expected to introduce draft legislation for legal and technical checks in early January. While Macron did not mention the initiative in his New Year’s Eve address, he pledged to “protect our children and teenagers from social media and screens.”
The presidential palace and the prime minister’s office declined to comment on the reports, but the move aligns with Macron’s repeated warnings that social media contributes to youth violence and social instability.
Extending Restrictions to High Schools
Mobile phones have been banned in France’s primary and middle schools since 2018. The new measure would extend this prohibition to high schools, where pupils aged 15 to 18 are currently allowed to use their phones outside class hours. Under the French education system, pupils aged 11 to 15 attend middle school.
France had already passed a law in 2023 requiring social media companies to obtain parental consent for users under 15 to create accounts. However, enforcement has faced obstacles due to difficulties verifying users’ ages and ensuring compliance across platforms.
If adopted, the new restrictions would mirror recent moves by Australia, which introduced a world-first national ban on social media access for children under 16 in December, covering platforms such as Facebook, Snapchat, TikTok and YouTube.
Macron’s Push for EU-Wide Regulation
President Macron has also called for broader regulation at the European Union level. In June, following a fatal stabbing at a school in eastern France, he urged the EU to establish a minimum age of 15 for accessing social media. The European Parliament echoed the call in November, urging member states to address the link between online exposure and rising adolescent mental health problems.
Despite such appeals, age restrictions remain a national prerogative within the EU, leading to varied rules across member states. Macron argues that consistent regulation would provide stronger protection and make enforcement easier across borders.
Political Context and Public Support
The legislative effort comes as Macron faces significant domestic challenges following the 2024 parliamentary elections, which resulted in a hung parliament and triggered one of France’s deepest political crises in decades. Nevertheless, the proposed social media restrictions could prove popular with voters.
A Harris Interactive survey conducted in 2024 showed that 73% of respondents supported banning social media access for children under 15. Analysts say the policy could help Macron regain some political footing by focusing on a widely shared concern about the digital welfare of young people.
As the debate unfolds, France joins a growing number of countries rethinking how to regulate minors’ access to social media balancing the benefits of connectivity with the urgent need to protect children’s mental health and safety.
with inputs from Reuters
