French President Emmanuel Macron plans to ban children under the age of 15 from accessing social media platforms from September 2026 and to prohibit mobile phones in high schools, according to reports by Le Monde and France Info on Wednesday. The proposed measures reflect growing concern in France over the impact of online content and excessive screen use on minors.
Under the plan, the French government will submit draft legislation for legal review in early January, the media outlets reported. Macron did not explicitly mention the proposal in his New Year’s Eve address, but he reiterated his commitment to “protect our children and teenagers from social media and screens.”
Macron has repeatedly argued that social media contributes to violence and harmful behaviour among young people. He has pointed to Australia as a model, after the country implemented a world-first ban on social media access for under-16s in December, covering platforms such as Meta’s Facebook, Snapchat, TikTok and Google’s YouTube.
France already bans mobile phones in primary and middle schools, a policy introduced in 2018. The reported changes would extend that restriction to high schools. In the French education system, pupils aged 11 to 15 attend middle school.
In 2023, France passed a law requiring social media platforms to obtain parental consent for users under 15 to create accounts. However, enforcement has been limited due to technical and verification challenges.
Macron has also called for stronger action at the European level. In June, he said he would push for European Union-wide rules to restrict social media access for under-15s, following a fatal school stabbing that reignited debate over youth safety. The European Parliament urged member states in November to set minimum age limits for social media use, citing rising mental health concerns among adolescents.
While Macron enters the new year facing political difficulties after inconclusive parliamentary elections in 2024 weakened his domestic position, public opinion appears supportive of tougher rules. A 2024 Harris Interactive survey found that 73% of respondents backed a ban on social media access for children under 15.
