The French government wants to proceed with banning social media for children under 15 years old starting from the 2026 school year, according to a draft bill accessed by the French Press Agency, which is expected to be discussed in parliament soon. This plan, which includes two articles, aims to prohibit “the provision, through online platforms, of social media services to minors under 15 years old,” from September 1, 2026.
The French government’s rationale for the ban
“Numerous studies and reports identify the various risks caused by excessive use of digital screens by teenagers,” the government explains in the document, citing mainly “exposure to inappropriate content,” “cyberbullying,” and “sleep disorders.” The first article of the bill falls within the framework of the law on trust in the digital economy (LCEN) and entrusts Arcom, the French regulatory authority for audiovisual and digital communication, with the task of enforcing this prohibition. In the second article, the government’s bill wants to extend the mobile phone usage ban to high schools. This measure has already been implemented from kindergarten to the first grades of secondary education with a 2018 law, although it is sometimes difficult to enforce.
