France Moves to Restrict Social Media Use for Children Under 15
French President Emmanuel Macron is planning to impose a ban on social media use for children under the age of 15 starting from September 2026, French daily Le Monde has reported. At the same time, the government is preparing to enforce a complete ban on mobile phone use in high schools across the country. The measures are being considered amid growing concerns over harmful online influence and a rise in youth violence, according to the report. Reuters also carried the development.
President Macron has long argued that social media plays a significant role in encouraging violent behaviour among young people. Referring to Australia as an example, he noted that platforms such as Facebook, Snapchat, TikTok and YouTube have already been banned there for users under the age of 16. He indicated that France is considering a similar path.
According to the report, the French government is expected to present a draft law for legal review in early January.
It may be recalled that since 2018, mobile phones have already been banned in primary and secondary schools in France. Under the new initiative, this restriction could be extended to high schools as well.
Earlier, in 2023, France made parental consent mandatory for opening social media accounts for children under 15. However, due to technical and enforcement challenges, the regulation was never fully implemented.
DBTech/BMT/OR
