France is preparing new legislation to restrict children under the age of 15 from using social media, after a similar restriction imposed by Australia on minors to protect them from harmful digital exposure.
According to French media reports, the proposed restrictions would come into force from the beginning of the 2026 school year, marking a major shift in national digital policy.
A draft bill outlining the measures is expected to undergo legal scrutiny by the Conseil d’État before being formally presented to parliament early next year.
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President Emmanuel Macron has called for swift legislative action, warning that unchecked social media use is increasingly damaging young people’s mental health, behaviour, and overall development.
Australian restrictions, introduced in December, apply to major platforms including Facebook, TikTok, Snapchat, and YouTube, setting an international precedent now influencing European policymakers.
French officials say the draft legislation contains two core measures targeting youth digital habits across schools and homes nationwide.
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The first proposal would ban children under 15 from accessing social media platforms, while the second would prohibit mobile phone use in high schools.
Mobile phones are already banned in primary and middle schools across France, but the high school restriction would extend controls to students aged 15 to 18.
Education unions are expected to review the high school phone ban proposal, as discussions continue over its practicality and potential impact on classroom learning environments.
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Government officials aim to implement the France social media ban by September 2026, aligning enforcement with the academic calendar to ease administrative transitions.
The draft bill highlights risks from excessive screen time, including harmful content exposure, cyberbullying, sleep disruption, and declining attention spans among adolescents.
It is worth noting here that Australia’s decision to impose a nationwide ban on social media platforms for children under sixteen, making it the first country to adopt such strict controls covering platforms such as Facebook, TikTok, Snapchat, and YouTube.
