France to ban social‑media access for under‑15s amid youth health concerns

French President Emmanuel Macron has announced plans to prohibit children under 15 from using social‑media platforms starting in September. The measure, aimed at addressing growing evidence of sleep disturbances, attention problems, weight gain and mental‑health issues among adolescents, awaits final approval from the European Commission.

Authorities note that similar restrictions in Australia produced only modest reductions in usage, as teenagers bypassed age checks with fake accounts or older profiles. Critics argue that enforcement will be difficult and that broader preventive actions are needed alongside any ban.

The proposal reflects mounting scientific consensus that excessive social‑media exposure poses a public‑health challenge for youths, prompting France to consider one of the most stringent age‑based limits in Europe.