France is preparing a new legislative push to curb children’s exposure to social media, with a draft bill proposing a ban on access for under-15s as early as next

September, according to a text seen by Agence France-Presse. The initiative has the backing of President Emmanuel Macron, who has urged lawmakers to begin debating the proposal in January.

The move comes amid growing concern over the impact of screen time on young people. The draft law cites studies linking excessive digital use among adolescents to risks such as exposure to inappropriate content, cyberbullying and disrupted sleep patterns.

If adopted, the legislation would introduce two key measures. The first would make it illegal for online platforms to provide social media services to children under 15. The second would prohibit the use of mobile phones in secondary schools.

France’s renewed effort mirrors international developments. Earlier this month, Australia announced a ban on social media use for children under 16, a world first that has intensified global debate on regulating digital platforms for minors.

Macron has repeatedly described the protection of children online as a government priority, though past attempts have faced legal and practical hurdles. A ban on mobile phones in preschools and middle schools, introduced in 2018, has been unevenly enforced. More recently, a 2023 law setting a “digital legal age” of 15 was blocked for failing to comply with European Union rules.

Momentum has nonetheless been building. In December, France’s upper house, the Sénat, endorsed a separate initiative aimed at reducing teenagers’ screen time. That proposal would require parental consent for children aged 13 to 16 to register on social media platforms.

The Sénat’s text has now been sent to the National Assembly, which must approve it before any measure can become law. Photo by Today Testing (for derivative), Wikimedia commons.