France is preparing to introduce new restrictions on young people’s use of digital technology, with plans to ban children under 15 from social media platforms and to prohibit mobile phones in high schools starting in September 2026, according to French media reports on Wednesday. The proposed measures reflect growing public concern about the harmful effects of online activity on minors.

President Emmanuel Macron has repeatedly blamed social media as a contributing factor to youth violence and has indicated that France should follow Australia’s lead. Australia implemented the world’s first nationwide ban on social media for users under 16 in December, covering platforms such as Facebook, Snapchat, TikTok, and YouTube. Macron’s government is expected to submit draft legislation for legal review in early January, as reported by Le Monde and France Info.

Although Macron did not mention the proposed legislation in his New Year’s Eve address, he pledged to strengthen protections for children and teenagers against excessive exposure to screens and social media. Previously, both the Elysee Palace and the prime minister’s office declined to comment on the reports.

Mobile phones have already been banned in French primary and middle schools since 2018, and the new proposal would extend that ban to high schools. In France’s education system, students aged 11 to 15 attend middle school. In addition, a 2023 law requires social media companies to obtain parental consent before allowing under-15s to open accounts, though technical obstacles have limited its effectiveness.

Macron has also called for action at the European Union level. After a fatal school stabbing in eastern France in June, he urged the EU to adopt continent-wide rules banning social media access for children under 15. In November, the European Parliament supported the idea of setting minimum age limits to address worsening mental health among adolescents, though individual member states retain authority over age regulations. While Macron begins the new year amid political difficulties following the inconclusive 2024 parliamentary elections, stronger restrictions on minors’ social media use may receive public backing. A 2024 Harris Interactive poll found that 73 percent of respondents support banning social media for children under 15.