France is preparing a second attempt to restrict social media for children under 15, as President Emmanuel Macron pressures Brussels to make the same age limit a common European standard.It prompted the EU to press in an August 29 letter to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, calling for a new “European legislative text” to “protect all children in the Union.” The request came after France’s Constitutional Council halted the country’s planned restrictions before they could come into force on September 1.
Macron seeks EU-wide age limit
In his letter, Macron told Von der Leyen that it was now “essential to go further” and harmonize the restriction on under-15s across European law. It has also sought support among EU countries for a common “digital majority”, although governments differ over the age at which unrestricted access to social media should begin, AFP reported. Von der Leyen has said Europe should consider “phased, phased access for different age ranges.”The recommendations presented to the Commission would impose the strictest controls on children under 13 and allow broader access as they grow, as long as platforms meet safety requirements. According to the European Commission, almost two-thirds of respondents in a recent EU survey supported age-based restrictions on children’s access to social media.
The court blocked the French ban before its implementation in September
The French parliament had backed restrictions banning children under 15 from accessing social media starting September 1. The Constitutional Council annulled the relevant provisions on August 14, meaning the ban never came into force.The proposed rules would also have required age verification and closure of existing accounts belonging to users below the threshold. The council found the blanket restriction disproportionate, saying it did not sufficiently distinguish between platforms based on the risks they posed or between children based on factors such as age, maturity and family circumstances. He also expressed concern about safeguards governing age verification and personal data, Reuters reported.However, the ruling left room for another attempt. The council recognized that protecting the best interests of children is a legitimate constitutional objective, and Macron has said he hopes to “find a way forward” through a narrower measure that complies with both EU law and the French Constitution.His letter of August 29 followed that ruling, taking the campaign to the European level even as France began work on a revised national text.
Telephone restrictions go into effect in secondary schools
A separate French measure restricting mobile phone use in schools came into effect at the start of the 2026-27 academic year. Rules already applied in primary and secondary schools were extended to secondary schools starting September 1, according to the French Ministry of Education.That day, while visiting the Lycée Chaptal in Mende, Macron defended the measure and told students that using the phone at school was “not compatible with paying attention in class.” He said the problem extended to adults, adding that attendees at some Elysée meetings were now being asked to hand over their phones to prevent them from checking the devices during discussions.During the visit, the school collected students’ phones in numbered compartments. Reactions were mixed: some students accepted the restriction and others described it as “infantilizing.” Teachers unions have questioned how quickly schools can put the rules into practice.He also took advantage of the visit to restore minors’ access to social networks. “This creates addictions and dependencies. It also leads to attention disorders,” Macron told the students. He added that greater exposure to screens and social media made it more difficult to maintain attention and concentrate while reading.France is now expected to produce revised national legislation in the coming months, while the European Commission prepares its own proposals following the expert panel’s recommendations.
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