A country in Europe wants to ban social networks for children under 15, following the model of Australia

“Numerous studies and reports now attest to various risks induced by an excessive use of digital screens by teenagers,” is the French government's justification for following the example of Australia, which for the first time globally banned platforms such as Facebook, Snapchat and YouTube, according to The Guardian.

A bill banning the use of social media by under-15s will undergo legal scrutiny and is expected to be debated in parliament early next year.

French President Emmanuel Macron has made it clear in recent weeks that he wants France to quickly follow the lead of Australia, which in December introduced the world's first ban on the use of social media platforms by under-16s.

Le Monde and France Info reported on Wednesday that the draft law has been finalized and contains two measures: banning social media for under-15s and banning cellphones in high schools, where students between the ages of 15 and 18 study. Phones have already been banned in primary and secondary schools.

The draft law will be submitted to the legal examination of the Council of State of France in the following days. Education unions will also consider the proposal to ban phones in high schools.

The government wants the social media ban to come into effect from September 2026.

Le Monde reported that the text of the bill mentions “the risks of excessive screen use by teenagers”, including the dangers of exposure to inappropriate content on social networks, online bullying and changes in sleep patterns. The bill mentions the need to “protect future generations” from dangers that threaten their ability to develop and live in a society with shared values.

Earlier this month, Macron confirmed in a public debate in Saint Malo that he wants to ban social media for young teenagers. He said there was “a consensus in formation” on the issue after Australia introduced the ban. “The more screen time, the lower school performance…the more screen time, the higher the mental health problems,” he said.

He used the analogy of a teenager getting into a Formula 1 car before learning to drive. “If a kid is in a Formula 1 car and starts the engine, I don't want him to win the race, I just want him to get out of the car. I want him to learn the road code first, make sure the car works and teach him to drive another car.”

Several other countries are considering banning social media for children under 15, following Australia's ban, including Denmark, whose government hopes to introduce a ban in 2026, and Norway. Malaysia is also planning a ban on social media for children under 16 from 2026. In the UK, the Labor government has not ruled out a ban, saying “nothing is ruled out” but any ban must be based on “solid evidence”.

Anne Le Hénanff, the French minister responsible for digital development and artificial intelligence, told Le Parisien this month that banning social media for children under 15 is a government priority and that the bill will be “short and compatible with European law”, namely the EU's Digital Services Act (DSA) – a regulation aimed at combating hate speech, disinformation and false information.

The social media ban is part of Macron's bid to shape his legacy as he enters his difficult final year as president with a divided parliament.