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France Unveils Draft Law to Bar Under‑15s From Social Media by September 2026

Ministers present a text they say aligns with EU digital‑services rules following a 2023 attempt that was blocked by the European Commission.

Overview

  • The government draft would prohibit online platforms from providing social‑network services to anyone under 15 starting on 1 September 2026.
  • Arcom, the audiovisual and digital regulator, would enforce the restriction under France’s LCEN framework.
  • A second article would extend the existing school mobile‑phone ban to high schools, building on rules already in place from primary through middle school.
  • Parliament is set to open debate in early January 2026, alongside a National Assembly proposal from Gabriel Attal’s group and a Senate text adopted on 18 December requiring parental consent for 13‑ to 16‑year‑olds.
  • The government cites youth exposure to inappropriate content, cyberharassment and disrupted sleep as the public‑health rationale for setting a digital majority at 15.