What if scrolling came with an age limit?
France is asking that very question. In a bold new move, the government plans to push through a ban on social media for children under 15.
The aim is to have it in place by September next year.
The proposal, laid out in a draft law, has the backing of President Emmanuel Macron, who wants lawmakers to start debating it as early as January.
Why now? Officials say the evidence is stacking up.
“Many studies and reports now confirm the risks linked to excessive screen use among adolescents,” the draft warns.
From exposure to inappropriate content to cyberbullying and disrupted sleep, the concerns are no longer hypothetical.
They’re everyday realities for many families.
Global Social Media Crackdown
France isn’t acting in isolation. Australia recently made headlines by becoming the first country to ban social media for under-16s.
Setting a precedent that Paris appears keen to follow.
Supporters argue this isn’t about punishing kids, but protecting them.
France has had mixed success in restricting screen time for children.
Critics, meanwhile, question enforcement and worry about pushing teens into digital shadows.
Still, the message is clear: governments are no longer content to watch from the sidelines as childhood plays out on screens.
In an era where “just five more minutes” can turn into hours, France is essentially asking — shouldn’t childhood come with an off switch?