France Moves To Ban Social Media For Under-15s

France is set to attempt a fresh ban on social media use by children under the age of 15, following Australia’s world-first restrictions on minors.

Local media reports on Wednesday said the French government has drafted a new law, backed by President Emmanuel Macron, that would prohibit major social media platforms from offering services to under-15s, with implementation possibly from September 2026.

According to AFP, the draft legislation cites studies linking excessive screen time to risks such as exposure to inappropriate content, cyberbullying and other online harms. The proposal would also extend the ban on mobile phone use to high schools.

French media said the bill could be submitted for legal scrutiny in early January.

France previously attempted to introduce a “digital legal age” of 15 in 2023, but the move stalled after the European Commission raised concerns over conflicts with EU digital regulations.

Public support for stricter controls has grown. An Ipsos poll published in September showed that four in five French residents support banning social media for children under 14.

The move aligns France with a growing global push to protect minors online. Australia’s law, which took effect on December 10, bans social media accounts for users under 16, with fines of up to A$49.5 million for non-compliant platforms.

Other countries, including Germany and Malaysia, were also considering or implementing similar age-based restrictions.