France Accelerates National Social Media Ban for Under-15s by September 2026, Extending Mobile Restrictions to All High Schools

President Emmanuel Macron has officially launched an accelerated legislative track to enforce a comprehensive national ban on social media for children under 15 years old. This ambitious policy is slated for full implementation by September 2026, marking a significant shift in the country's digital landscape and regulatory approach.

Macron has specifically tasked the French Senate with finalizing the legal framework by this deadline, emphasizing that the state must act decisively. The goal is to protect the cognitive development and emotional stability of young citizens from the manipulative influence of algorithms used by major American and Chinese platforms.

Leading the charge in the National Assembly is Laura Miller, a prominent deputy from the Renaissance party who has been a vocal advocate for digital safety. Her legislative proposal seeks to eliminate digital distractions by banning mobile phones in all lycées, or high schools, across the nation.

This move represents a significant escalation of the 2018 policy that already prohibited phone use in primary and middle schools. Macron intends to send a very clear signal that the educational environment must be preserved for learning and face-to-face social interaction, free from digital interference.

France is looking closely at the Australian model, where a strict ban for those under 16 led to the removal of 4.7 million accounts. This massive reduction in digital presence occurred within just one month of the law's commencement on December 10, 2025.

The momentum is also building in the United Kingdom, where the House of Lords recently moved forward with similar restrictive legislation. Additionally, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced plans for unified EU standards in September 2025 to protect children across the continent.

The drive for these changes is rooted in data from ANSES, the French national health authority, which has conducted extensive research on youth habits. Their findings show a troubling link between high social media usage and a sharp decline in adolescent self-esteem and overall mental well-being.

More alarmingly, the agency noted that young users are increasingly exposed to content related to self-harm and suicidal ideation. Several French families have recently filed lawsuits against TikTok, claiming the platform’s algorithm contributed to tragic outcomes for their teenage children.

A critical aspect of the new bill is the requirement for robust age verification, a feature that is currently lacking on most platforms. Laura Miller argues that platforms currently operate on an honor system that fails to verify the actual age of their users, creating a dangerous loophole.

Statistics indicate that 90% of adolescents aged 12 to 17 use smartphones daily, with 58% of them being active on various social media platforms. Furthermore, data shows that one in every two teenagers spends between two and five hours every day on their mobile devices.

While some researchers advocate for more long-term studies, the French government is choosing to act on the side of caution. By prioritizing preventive intervention and digital safety, authorities aim to secure a healthier and more secure future for the next generation of French citizens.