The French government is taking this step, citing the link between social media use and increased mental health risks among children and adolescents.
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France is preparing to introduce new laws to ban children under the age of 15 from using social media. The French government said it is taking the step based on findings linking social media use to increased mental health risks among children and adolescents.
The bill, which is expected to be introduced in parliament in early 2026, is set to come into effect in September 2026. According to a report in Reuters, the proposed law would ban platforms that provide access to social media to children under 15. It would also extend existing restrictions on mobile phone use in schools to upper grades.
The move adds to the growing body of research from Singapore this week that suggests that increased screen time in childhood can affect anxiety and decision-making skills in adolescence. A study by Singapore's Agency for Science, Technology and Research and the National University of Singapore found a direct link between excessive screen time in childhood and increased stress and poor decision-making skills in adolescence.
Associate Professor Tan Ai Peng, who was involved in the research, told Reuters, “This research explains with scientific evidence why limiting screen time in the first two years of life is so important.”
French President Emmanuel Macron has also said it is necessary to protect children from digital harm. “The more screen time, the more mental health problems increase ,” he told reporters. He briefly responded to reporters, presenting age limits in the digital age as a public health issue.
France’s proposal comes around the corner from a landmark law that Australia has implemented from 2025. Australia has banned children under the age of 16 from opening accounts on major platforms including TikTok, Instagram, Facebook and YouTube, effective from December. Companies that do not comply with the rules face fines of up to A$49.5 million. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced the decision, saying, “These are children’s developing brains and they need the space they need to grow properly.” Asian countries have also signaled they will tighten restrictions on children’s social media use and screen time. Malaysia has announced plans to ban children under 16 from social media by 2026 and is studying an age verification system. “We want to make the internet not only fast and accessible, but also safe for children and all family members,” Malaysian Communications Minister Fahmy Fazil told AP News. Meanwhile, Denmark, Norway, Italy, Spain and other countries are also preparing age-based restrictions. The move has fueled a global debate about the balance between digital safety, rights and enforcement.
