French President Emmanuel Macron has fast-tracked plans to ban children under 15 from using social media, signaling a growing international trend in regulating digital access for minors amid mounting concerns about mental health, online safety, and the influence of global tech platforms.
In a video released Saturday by BFM-TV, Macron said he instructed his government to initiate an accelerated legislative procedure so that the bill could pass the Senate in time to take effect with the start of the new school year in September.
“The brains of our children and our teenagers are not for sale,” he said. “The emotions of our children and our teenagers are not for sale or to be manipulated. Neither by American platforms, nor by Chinese algorithms.”
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The move comes as French health authorities continue to warn about the dangers of excessive smartphone use. According to the National Agency for Food, Environmental, and Occupational Health and Safety (ANSES), half of French teenagers spend between two and five hours a day on their devices. Nearly 90% of young people aged 12 to 17 access the internet every day via smartphones, and 58% use social networks regularly.
The agency’s December report highlighted the harmful effects of social media exposure, including lower self-esteem, higher anxiety, and increased vulnerability to content linked to self-harm, drug use, and suicide. Several French families have lodged complaints against TikTok, alleging that the platform’s algorithms contributed to teen suicides.
Macron emphasized that the legislation will create clear and enforceable rules: “We’re banning social networks for under-15s and we’re going to ban mobile phones in our high schools. Clear for our teenagers, clear for families, clear for teachers, and we are moving forward,” he said.
The bill, set for public examination on Monday, aims both to restrict social media use for minors under 15 and to enforce tighter mobile phone regulations in secondary schools.
France is not alone in exploring such measures. The United Kingdom recently signaled it is considering restricting social media access for young teenagers as part of broader online safety reforms. European policymakers are increasingly framing social media restrictions as a public health and child protection issue, rather than solely a technology regulation matter.
Australia’s experience has served as a reference point for France and other countries. Since imposing a ban on children under 16 from accessing social media platforms, Australian authorities have deactivated approximately 4.7 million accounts identified as belonging to minors. The policy has triggered debates over privacy, age verification, mental health, and digital rights, yet officials cite measurable improvements in youth well-being and engagement patterns as evidence of its effectiveness.
The apparent success of Australia’s approach has catalyzed similar initiatives in Europe, creating a wave of social media regulation aimed at safeguarding children in the digital age.
Experts note that France’s proposed law also fits into the broader European strategy of asserting sovereignty over digital platforms. Macron framed the bill in terms of protecting citizens from foreign algorithms and the commercial exploitation of young users, aligning with EU-wide efforts to regulate technology, including the Digital Services Act. By emphasizing local rules and ethical considerations, France seeks to establish a model of child-centered regulation that other countries may emulate.
Implementation challenges remain, including robust age verification, enforcement mechanisms, and potential legal challenges over privacy and digital rights. Nonetheless, policymakers in France are moving decisively, reflecting a growing consensus that unrestricted social media access for teenagers is increasingly incompatible with public health and education priorities.
With the French bill poised to take effect in September, the global trend toward social media restrictions for teens is accelerating. From Australia to Europe, governments are re-evaluating the balance between digital freedom and child protection, suggesting that Macron’s push may not only reshape France’s schools but also contribute to a broader international shift in how societies regulate youth access to technology.