France to ban social media for children under 15 by September 2026?
President Emmanuel Macron has called for accelerated legislation to restrict access to social media for under-15s, citing child protection concerns and the influence of platform-driven algorithms on young people’s well-being.
France is preparing to introduce a nationwide ban on social media use for children under the age of 15, with President Emmanuel Macron urging lawmakers to move quickly so that new rules are in place before the start of the next school year.
In a televised address, Macron said the government would seek to fast-track the legislation through parliament, framing the proposal as both a child safety measure and an issue of digital sovereignty. He argued that social media platforms, many of them based outside Europe, should not be allowed to shape the cognitive and emotional development of children through algorithmic incentives designed to maximise engagement.
Macron linked excessive social media use to commercial exploitation, manipulation and rising mental health concerns among young people. He pointed to growing evidence suggesting that prolonged exposure to social networks can contribute to psychological harm, particularly among teenagers.
Data from France’s public health authorities indicate that nearly half of French teenagers spend between two and five hours a day on their smartphones, with most accessing social media platforms on a daily basis. Regulators have associated these usage patterns with lower self-esteem and increased exposure to harmful content, including material related to self-harm, drug use and suicide. In recent years, some families have pursued legal action against major platforms over alleged failures to protect young users.
France’s proposal comes amid wider international debate on age-based restrictions for social media. Similar measures have been discussed or introduced in countries such as the United Kingdom and Australia, where governments have also cited concerns about children’s online safety.
While pushing for swift national action, Macron has said that France continues to support a broader European approach to regulating social media. However, the government maintains that domestic legislation is necessary to address immediate risks, rather than waiting for a slower, EU-wide consensus to emerge.
