France Plans Social Media Ban for Children Under 15

Addis Ababa, January 1, 2026 (FMC) — France is preparing sweeping measures to ban children under the age of 15 from accessing social media platforms and to tighten restrictions on cellphone use in schools starting next year, according to reports.

The proposed policy, backed by President Emmanuel Macron’s government, is expected to take effect from September 2026 and forms part of broader efforts to curb excessive screen time among minors and protect children from online harms such as cyberbullying, exposure to inappropriate content and digital addiction.

Under the plan, social media platforms would be barred from allowing users under 15 to create or maintain accounts. The government is also considering expanding existing rules that already ban mobile phones in primary and middle schools to include high schools as well.

French authorities say the move is driven by growing concern over the impact of digital platforms on children’s mental health, learning ability and sleep patterns. Officials argue that current safeguards, including parental consent requirements introduced in earlier legislation, have proven difficult to enforce effectively.

President Macron has previously called for tougher action at both national and European Union levels, urging coordinated measures to set minimum age requirements for social media use across member states. He has also pointed to similar steps taken by other countries as examples of stronger child protection in the digital space.

The draft legislation is expected to undergo legal review before being submitted to parliament for debate in the coming months, according to a report from Fox News.