In a bold move inspired by Australia’s pioneering efforts, France is gearing up to implement a ban that would prohibit children under the age of 15 from accessing social media. This initiative marks a significant step in addressing the digital challenges faced by minors.
President Emmanuel Macron is advocating for new legislation aimed at preventing social media companies from allowing under-15s to use their platforms. This move comes in response to increasing concerns about cyberbullying, addiction, and the effects of screen time on the mental well-being of young users.
The proposed legislation, as reported by AFP, draws on various studies that have linked excessive screen time to mental health issues, aggressive behavior, and online abuse among the youth.
French media suggest that this draft law could be presented for legal review as soon as January, with plans to enforce the ban potentially by September 2026.
Reports also indicate that President Macron might highlight this legislative plan during his New Year’s Eve speech, underscoring the issue’s significance on the national agenda.
The draft law cautions that unrestricted internet access can expose young users to unsuitable content and make them susceptible to cyberbullying and other online threats.
Under the proposals, responsibility would shift decisively onto Big Tech, forcing platforms to block under-15s entirely rather than relying on parents to police their children’s accounts.
The legislation would also extend France’s existing ban on mobile phone use in schools to high schools, dramatically tightening classroom rules.
France has tried – and failed – to introduce similar measures before. In 2018, the government banned mobile phones in pre-schools and middle schools for pupils aged 11 to 15, but enforcement has been uneven.
France is preparing to ban children under 15 from social media in a dramatic crackdown inspired by Australia’s world-leading move to lock minors out of major online platforms (stock image)
President Emmanuel Macron is backing draft legislation that would make it illegal for social media companies to offer their services to under-15s, amid growing fears over cyberbullying, addiction and the impact of screens on young minds (stock image)
A more ambitious attempt followed in 2023, when parliament passed a law setting a ‘digital legal age’ of 15, requiring social media firms to verify users’ ages and deactivate accounts belonging to children unless they had parental consent.
However, the law was blocked after the European Commission warned it conflicted with EU rules, including the bloc’s Digital Services Act, leaving it largely unenforced.
Momentum has since returned. Earlier this month, France’s Senate endorsed new measures to limit teenagers’ screen time, including a requirement for parental authorisation before children aged 13 to 16 can join social media platforms.
Public opinion is firmly behind tougher action. An Ipsos poll published in September found that four in five French adults want social networks banned for children under 14.
Mr Macron has frequently blamed social media for rising violence among young people and has openly praised Australia for taking decisive action.
Australia’s world-first law, which came into force on December 10, bars anyone under 16 from holding accounts on platforms including TikTok, Instagram, YouTube, Snapchat, Reddit, Facebook, Threads, Twitch and X.
Crucially, tech firms face fines of up to A$49.5 million (£26m) if they fail to block minors – making it the toughest age-based social media ban anywhere in the world.
The move has sent shockwaves through the tech industry and prompted other governments to follow suit. In Germany, ministers last month ordered a committee to examine whether similar curbs are feasible, with a report due in autumn 2026.
Meanwhile Malaysia has announced that from January 1, 2026, social media platforms will be required to block users under 16, backed by mandatory age-verification checks.
With Mr Macron now pushing a fresh legal route designed to withstand EU scrutiny, officials in Paris believe France may finally be able to enforce one of Europe’s toughest child protection regimes online – as governments across the world move to rein in the power of social media over children’s lives.
