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France is preparing to adopt one of Europe's strictest regulations on the use of social media networks by young people.
Indeed, the government has drafted a bill, consulted by Le Monde newspaper, which aims to ban access to social media platforms for under-15s as from the 2026-2027 academic year. The text will be examined by the Council of State in January, then debated in Parliament. The initiative is inspired by the Australian example, where a similar measure has already come into force.
President Emmanuel Macron has reaffirmed that protecting minors in the digital environment is a political priority in the final phase of his term of office. According to the Élysée, giving early and uncontrolled access to social media networks is like putting a teenager behind the wheel of a racing car without having taught him or her the highway code: before browsing online, young people need to acquire a real digital alphabet. The aim is to preserve the psychological balance of teenagers and strengthen social cohesion.
This project is based on numerous studies that point to the damage caused by intensive screen use: exposure to harmful content, cyber-bullying, digital dependency and sleep disorders. A French parliamentary commission of inquiry described certain platforms, such as TikTok, as true "slow poison" for children and teenagers, denouncing the role of algorithms in creating bubbles of toxic content. Unsurprisingly, the report recommended a total ban for children under 15, and the possible introduction of a digital curfew for older children.
The bill does not only concern social media networks. Among its key points is also the extension of the smartphone ban to high schools, attended by students aged 15 to 18. In France, a 2018 law already bans cell phones in primary and secondary schools, but its application has encountered numerous difficulties.
However, the measure has been met with resistance, particularly from teachers' unions, who doubt the feasibility of controls in high schools. On the other hand, public opinion seems rather favorable: according to recent polls, a large majority of citizens support the ban on social media networking for under-15s, seeing it as a necessary measure for the future of new generations.
(©GreenMe.it 2026 / Managing Editor: Selma Keshkire - The Press Junction / Picture: Pexels)