France plans ban on social media for under-15s

PARIS: France is considering a ban on social media use for children under the age of 15 and a prohibition on mobile phones in high schools from September 2026, local media reported on Wednesday, amid growing concern over the impact of online content on minors.

According to French daily Le Monde, President Emmanuel Macron is likely to unveil the measures in his New Year’s address. Draft legislation for the new restrictions is expected to be submitted in early January.

Macron has repeatedly linked social media platforms to rising violence among young people and has indicated that he wants France to follow Australia, which recently enforced a world-first ban on social media access for under-16s, including on Facebook, Snapchat, TikTok and YouTube.

Mobile phones are already banned in French primary and middle schools under legislation introduced in 2018. The proposed changes would extend this ban to high schools.

France last year also passed a law requiring social media platforms to obtain parental consent before under-15s can create accounts. However, authorities have faced technical difficulties in ensuring compliance.

Macron has also called for stronger regulation at the European Union level to restrict minors’ access to social media. The European Parliament in November urged common age limits across the bloc to address growing mental health concerns linked to excessive screen time, though final authority rests with individual member states.

The reported measures come as Macron faces significant domestic political challenges following last year’s parliamentary stalemate. However, opinion polls suggest that tougher controls on children’s social media use remain broadly popular with the French public.

Web Desk