Wed Dec 31 23:52:00 UTC 2025: Here’s a summary of the text followed by a rewritten news article:

Summary:

France is considering a nationwide ban on social media for children under 15 and a ban on mobile phones in high schools, starting September 2026. President Macron has frequently cited social media as a contributing factor to youth violence and aims to align France with Australia’s similar ban. Draft legislation will be submitted for legal checks soon. While a parental consent law for under-15s on social media already exists, enforcement has been difficult. Macron has also pushed for EU-wide regulation on this issue. Public opinion in France seems to favor stricter controls on minors’ access to social media.

News Article:

France Eyes Social Media Ban for Under-15s, High School Mobile Phone Ban

Paris, France – January 1, 2026 – In a move highlighting growing concerns about the impact of online harms on young people, France is reportedly planning to ban social media for children under 15 and prohibit mobile phones in high schools starting in September 2026.

According to local media reports published on December 31, 2025, President Emmanuel Macron’s government intends to submit draft legislation for legal review in early January. The proposed laws reflect Macron’s stance that social media contributes to youth violence. He has signaled his desire for France to follow Australia’s lead, which implemented a ban on social media platforms for those under 16 in December 2025.

While Macron didn’t explicitly mention the legislative push in his New Year’s Eve address, he vowed to “protect our children and teenagers from social media and screens.”

France has previously taken steps to regulate youth’s access to technology. Mobile phones have been banned in primary and middle schools since 2018, and a 2023 law requiring parental consent for under-15s to create social media accounts exists, although it has faced enforcement challenges.

President Macron has advocated for EU-wide regulation on this issue, urging for a ban on social media access for all under-15s across the European Union. The European Parliament has also called for minimum age limits to combat mental health problems linked to excessive social media use among adolescents.

Despite facing a politically turbulent period following parliamentary elections in 2024, Macron’s proposed crackdown on minors’ social media access could gain broad public support. A 2024 Harris Interactive survey indicated that 73% of respondents favored a ban on social media access for those under 15.

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