France planning to ban kids below 15 from social media beginning 2026

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France is planning to ban kids below 15 from social media and to limit cellphone use in excessive faculties beginning subsequent 12 months, native media Le Monde reported on Tuesday.

The proposal goals to curb extreme display time and protect minors from on-line dangers resembling inappropriate content material. President Emmanuel Macron has repeatedly cited social media as a contributing issue to violence amongst younger folks.

"Many research and reviews now affirm the assorted dangers brought on by extreme use of digital screens by adolescents," a draft legislation said, in line with Le Monde.

The doc added that kids with unrestrained entry on-line have been uncovered to "inappropriate content material" and will undergo from cyber-harassment or expertise modifications to their sleep patterns, in line with the outlet.

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President Emmanuel Macron is planning to ban social media use amongst kids below 15 years outdated. (TERESA SUAREZ/POOL/AFP through Getty Photos)

The proposal follows Australia’s lead after the nation launched a world-first ban on social media for kids below 16 years outdated in December, proscribing entry to platforms resembling Fb, TikTok and YouTube.

Macron is aiming for Parliament to debate the proposal in January, with a possible begin date of September subsequent 12 months, in line with the native outlet.

In June, Macron mentioned he needed to push for comparable laws throughout the European Union (EU), following a deadly faculty stabbing in eastern France that shocked the nation in April, Reuters reported.

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A 13-year-old lady is utilizing her smartphone in a darkish room. (iStock)

Macron has beforehand taken quite a few steps to guard minors digitally. Nevertheless, technical challenges, together with EU legal constraints and weak enforcement, have restricted the effectiveness of such measures.

Cellphones have already been banned in French elementary and center faculties since 2018, in line with Le Monde.

<source media="(min-width: 768px) and (max-width: 1023px)" srcset="https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2025/12/672/378/australian-pm-anthony-albanese-booed-at-bondi-beach-vigil-2.jpg?ve=1&tl=1, https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2025/12/1344/756/australian-pm-anthony-albanese-booed-at-bondi-beach-vigil-2.jpg?ve=1&tl=1 2x" height="378" width="672"><source media="(min-width: 1024px) and (max-width: 1279px)" srcset="https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2025/12/931/523/australian-pm-anthony-albanese-booed-at-bondi-beach-vigil-2.jpg?ve=1&tl=1, https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2025/12/1862/1046/australian-pm-anthony-albanese-booed-at-bondi-beach-vigil-2.jpg?ve=1&tl=1 2x" height="523" width="931"> Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese enacted a world-first social media ban in December, barring kids below 16 from utilizing main platforms. (Brent Lewin/Bloomberg through Getty Photos)

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In 2023, France reportedly tried to cross a legislation calling for a "digital authorized age," which required parental consent for social media customers below 15 years outdated. The legislation, nevertheless, was blocked by EU laws.

In November, the European Parliament urged the EU to set minimum social media ages to sort out adolescent psychological well being points, although ultimate selections relaxation with its member states, Reuters reported.