France debates under-15s social media ban endorsed by Macron

BBC • January 26, 2026 • general

Key Points:

France is set to ban social media access for under 15-year-olds, following Australia's example, with the law aiming to be in place by September, as part of efforts to protect children's mental health.
The proposed legislation would have the state media regulator identify harmful social networks to be banned for minors under 15, while less harmful sites would require parental approval.
The bill has strong political support from President Macron's party, the centre-right Republicans, and the right-wing National Rally, and includes a separate mobile phone ban in senior schools.
Age verification mechanisms will need to be established, similar to those used for online pornography, to enforce the new restrictions.
This move is part of a broader European trend, with countries like Denmark, Greece