Overview
- The draft would make it illegal for platforms to provide social media services to under‑15s and would extend France’s phone ban to high schools from September 2026.
- The government plans to submit the text for legal scrutiny in early January, with lawmakers expected to take it up soon after.
- President Emmanuel Macron backs the move and said in his New Year’s address that France will protect children and teenagers from social media and screens.
- France’s 2023 parental‑consent law for under‑15s stalled over conflicts with EU rules, making Digital Services Act compatibility a central test for the new plan.
- The initiative follows Australia’s December ban on under‑16s, while teacher unions and experts warn of tough enforcement on age verification and school compliance.