French President Emmanuel Macron has pledged to accelerate legislation aimed at banning children under the age of 15 from accessing social media platforms, with the goal of implementing the measure by September. In a self-recorded video broadcast on BFM Television, Macron said he had instructed the government to activate an accelerated legislative procedure so the law could come into force at the start of the next school year.

The proposed ban, currently under debate by French lawmakers, follows Australia’s recent move to prohibit social media use for children under 16, making it the first country to adopt such a nationwide restriction. The draft legislation is scheduled to be submitted to the French parliament on Monday and targets popular platforms such as Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube, which authorities have described as highly addictive for young users.

In addition to restricting social media access, Macron reiterated his support for banning mobile phones in schools to reduce distractions and protect students’ wellbeing. The proposed measures form part of a broader effort by the French government to safeguard children from the negative impacts of excessive screen time and online content.