Paris: France is moving closer to banning social media for young teenagers, with the government planning to prohibit under-15s from accessing major platforms from the start of the 2026 academic year.
A draft bill has been prepared and will soon be sent for legal review, with parliamentary debate expected early in the new year. The proposed law would make France one of the strictest countries in Europe on children’s access to social media, following Australia’s recent move to block under-16s from major platforms.
The legislation contains two key measures. The first would ban children under the age of 15 from using social media platforms, including Facebook, Snapchat, TikTok, and YouTube. The second would prohibit mobile phone use in high schools, extending existing restrictions that already apply in primary and middle schools.
The government aims for the social media ban to take effect from September 2026. The draft text highlights concern over excessive screen time among teenagers, pointing to exposure to inappropriate content, online harassment, and disrupted sleep patterns. It argues that stricter rules are needed to protect young people and safeguard their ability to develop and socialise healthily.
President Emmanuel Macron has repeatedly signalled his support for tough action, saying the risks linked to heavy screen use are becoming clearer. He has linked rising screen time to falling academic performance and growing mental health concerns among young people, and has compared unrestricted access to social media to allowing an untrained teenager to handle a high-speed racing car.
Partout en France, dans ces salles pleines, comme ici sur ma circonscription à Vanves, le même constat, la même inquiétude. Les écrans et les réseaux sociaux constituent une catastrophe sanitaire et éducative en puissance pour nos enfants.
Face à cette menace, nous agissons :… pic.twitter.com/FpAEY5bLE6
— Gabriel Attal (@GabrielAttal) December 12, 2025
France’s Conseil d’État will review the bill in the coming days, while education unions are expected to examine the proposed phone ban in high schools. The government says the legislation has been designed to remain compatible with European law, including the EU’s Digital Services Act.
France’s move comes amid growing international debate over children’s online safety. Denmark and Norway are exploring similar restrictions, while Malaysia plans to ban social media for under-16s from 2026. In Britain, the government has said it has not ruled out a ban, but any decision would need to be backed by strong evidence.
The issue has gained urgency in France following a parliamentary inquiry into the psychological effects of TikTok, which concluded last year that the platform posed serious risks to children. The inquiry followed a lawsuit brought by several families who accused the app of exposing their children to harmful content.
As Macron enters the final and politically challenging year of his presidency, the proposed ban has emerged as a key part of his push to strengthen child protection and shape his domestic legacy.
