Overview
- The draft seen by AFP would bar platforms from providing social media services to minors under 15 and extend existing mobile‑phone bans to high schools.
- The government plans to submit the text for legal checks in early January, with parliamentary debate expected soon and a target start at the 2026 school year.
- Emmanuel Macron reaffirmed support in his New Year’s remarks, citing risks such as exposure to harmful content, cyberbullying, and disrupted sleep.
- The plan echoes Australia’s under‑16 ban that took effect in December and aligns with moves under consideration in Denmark, Norway, and Malaysia.
- Major obstacles include enforcing age verification and meeting EU requirements after a 2023 French measure was stymied, with teacher unions warning schools lack capacity to enforce wider bans.