French President Emmanuel Macron has called for an accelerated parliamentary process to ban social media for children under 15, aiming for the measure to begin in September with the new school year. He cited the manipulation of children’s emotions and growing concerns about teen mental health, referencing statistics from France's health watchdog on heavy smartphone and social-network use among teens. The move follows similar debates in the U.K. and Australia and raises questions about enforcement, digital rights and complementary protections like digital literacy and platform accountability.
Macron Moves to Fast-Track Ban on Social Media for Under-15s Ahead of New School Year
French President Emmanuel Macron arrives for the EU summit in Brussels, Thursday, Jan. 22, 2026. (AP Photo/Omar Havana)
French President Emmanuel Macron has asked the government to fast-track legislation that would ban social media use for children under 15, aiming for the measure to take effect in September at the start of the next school year.
In a video released by BFM-TV, Macron said he asked ministers to trigger an accelerated parliamentary procedure so the proposed bill can be debated and passed by the Senate in time. The message was directed to lawmaker Laure Miller, who is sponsoring the bill and whose text is due to be examined in a public session on Monday.
"The brains of our children and our teenagers are not for sale. The emotions of our children and our teenagers are not for sale or to be manipulated. Neither by American platforms, nor by Chinese algorithms."
Macron framed the proposal as a response to growing evidence about the harms of excessive social media use on youth mental health. France's health watchdog reports that one in two teenagers spends between two and five hours a day on a smartphone; about 90% of 12–17-year-olds use smartphones daily, and 58% use them for social networks.
The watchdog's December report linked social-network use to reduced self-esteem and increased exposure to content associated with risky behaviors, including self-harm, drug use and suicide. Several families in France have filed lawsuits against TikTok alleging the platform contributed to teen suicides.
Macron also reiterated plans to ban mobile phones in high schools, saying such rules should be "clear for our teenagers, clear for families, clear for teachers." The move echoes policy debates elsewhere: the U.K. has signaled it will consider restrictions for young teenagers, while Australia required platforms to remove under-16 accounts—leading firms to revoke access to about 4.7 million accounts and prompting heated national discussion about privacy, child safety and digital rights.
The bill's accelerated timetable, if enacted, would require swift parliamentary agreement and raise practical questions about enforcement, parental responsibility and possible impacts on education and digital inclusion. Supporters emphasize child protection and mental health; critics warn of unintended consequences and call for complementary measures such as digital literacy and better platform accountability.
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