French President Emmanuel Macron has announced that his government will initiate an accelerated parliamentary procedure to ban social media access for children under 15 years old, with the new law set to take effect by the start of the next school year in September 2026.
In a video released late Saturday by French broadcaster BFM-TV, Macron declared his intention to move swiftly on the controversial measure, stating that draft legislation would be submitted to the French parliament on Monday. The accelerated procedure aims to ensure the bill passes through both chambers of parliament in time for implementation at the beginning of the academic year.
The proposed legislation would prohibit online platforms from providing any social networking service to minors under fifteen years of age starting September 1, 2026. Additionally, the measure seeks to extend an existing ban on mobile phones from preschool through middle school, which France first introduced in 2018, to include high schools as well.
Macron framed the initiative as essential for protecting young people from digital manipulation. He emphasized that the brains of French children and adolescents are not for sale or manipulation, whether by American platforms or Chinese algorithms. The president called this a clear rule that would benefit teenagers, families, and teachers alike.
The draft legislation cites numerous studies and reports attesting to various risks associated with excessive use of digital screens by teenagers. These include exposure to inappropriate content, cyberbullying, sleep disturbances, and negative impacts on mental health and academic performance.
France joins a growing European movement to shield teenagers from social media harms. Denmark secured cross-party agreement in 2025 to ban access for under-15s on certain platforms, with that legislation potentially becoming law in mid-2026. Australia has already implemented a world-first social media ban for minors, barring children under 16 from having their own accounts on major platforms including Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat, and others since December 2025.
The enforcement mechanism for such bans remains a significant challenge across all countries attempting similar measures. France is expected to require platforms to implement robust age verification systems, though details of how compliance will be monitored and penalties for violations have not yet been fully disclosed.
Critics of such bans argue they may be difficult to enforce and could push young users toward less regulated corners of the internet. However, supporters maintain that establishing clear legal boundaries sends an important message and places responsibility on technology companies to develop effective safeguards.
The announcement comes amid growing global concern about the impact of social media on youth mental health, with studies linking heavy social media use to increased rates of anxiety, depression, and body image issues among teenagers.
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