Overview
- The draft, to be presented in January, would make it illegal for platforms to provide social network services to users under 15 and would prohibit mobile phone use in secondary schools.
- President Emmanuel Macron backs the proposal, which follows a Senate initiative on parental authorization for 13‑ to 16‑year‑olds and builds on a 2018 school phone ban that has been inconsistently enforced.
- France’s move comes as Australia’s national under‑16 restriction, in force since December 10, shows immediate operational effects, with reports of roughly 200,000 TikTok accounts deactivated on the first day.
- Other governments are considering similar steps, including a planned under‑16 ban in Malaysia from 2026, proposed age limits in Denmark with parental authorization from 13, active debate in Germany, and state‑level measures in the United States.
- Officials cite risks to sleep, mood, and physical activity highlighted by experts and studies, while practical hurdles such as reliable age verification and teens’ use of VPNs remain central to enforcement.