Overview
- An initial draft completed by the government will be sent to the Conseil d’État in early January, with parliamentary debate expected soon after.
- The text would make it illegal for platforms to provide social media services to minors under 15 and would extend phone restrictions to high schools.
- Officials are targeting the start of the 2026 school year for enforcement, framing the move as a child-protection measure against harmful content, bullying and sleep disruption.
- France’s 2023 parental-consent law for under-15s stalled over EU objections, so alignment with rules such as the Digital Services Act will be a key hurdle.
- Teacher unions warn schools lack capacity to police devices and access, even as polling shows strong public support and Australia’s December rollout provides a reference point.