France to ban children from social media, following Australia's example
President Emmanuel Macron is backing draft legislation that would make it illegal for social media companies to offer their services to under-15s.
By OLIVIA ALLHUSEN, FOREIGN NEWS REPORTER
Published: 12:11 GMT, 1 January 2026 | Updated: 12:11 GMT, 1 January 2026
France is preparing to ban children under 15 from social media in a dramatic crackdown inspired by Australia's world-leading move to lock minors out of major online platforms.
President Emmanuel Macron is backing draft legislation that would make it illegal for social media companies to offer their services to under-15s, amid growing fears over cyberbullying, addiction and the impact of screens on young minds.
According to the AFP news agency, the proposed law cites multiple studies linking excessive screen use to mental health problems, violence and online abuse among children.
French media report it could be submitted for legal scrutiny as early as January, with the ban potentially coming into force by September 2026.
Mr Macron is even said to be considering announcing the plans during his New Year's Eve address, underlining the political importance of the issue.
The draft law warns that unrestricted internet access exposes children to 'inappropriate content' and leaves them vulnerable to cyberbullying and other digital harms.
Under the proposals, responsibility would shift decisively onto Big Tech, forcing platforms to block under-15s entirely rather than relying on parents to police their children's accounts.
The legislation would also extend France's existing ban on mobile phone use in schools to high schools, dramatically tightening classroom rules.
France has tried – and failed – to introduce similar measures before. In 2018, the government banned mobile phones in pre-schools and middle schools for pupils aged 11 to 15, but enforcement has been uneven.
France is preparing to ban children under 15 from social media in a dramatic crackdown inspired by Australia's world-leading move to lock minors out of major online platforms (stock image)
President Emmanuel Macron is backing draft legislation that would make it illegal for social media companies to offer their services to under-15s, amid growing fears over cyberbullying, addiction and the impact of screens on young minds (stock image)
A more ambitious attempt followed in 2023, when parliament passed a law setting a 'digital legal age' of 15, requiring social media firms to verify users' ages and deactivate accounts belonging to children unless they had parental consent.
However, the law was blocked after the European Commission warned it conflicted with EU rules, including the bloc's Digital Services Act, leaving it largely unenforced.
Momentum has since returned. Earlier this month, France's Senate endorsed new measures to limit teenagers' screen time, including a requirement for parental authorisation before children aged 13 to 16 can join social media platforms.