Social networks and phones: a legislative turning point for teenagers

At the end of January, members of parliament adopted at first reading a bill aimed at severely restricting minors' access to digital social media . Two major measures are now on the table:

the ban on access to social networks for those under 15,
and the ban on the use of mobile phones on school premises.

Supported by the government and examined under an accelerated procedure, this text marks a clear change of posture: the State is no longer content to warn about the risks of digital technology, it now seeks to set explicit limits .

Key takeaways from the adopted text

The minimum age for accessing social networks is set at 15 years old .
The text does not create a new direct obligation for the platforms, but introduces a general prohibition of access for the minors concerned.
In practice, this implies the implementation of age verification mechanisms , the framework for which would fall under European law.
Certain platforms or services are explicitly excluded (educational resources, encyclopedias, free software).
The text also paves the way for increased accountability of platforms , particularly regarding the commercial pressure exerted on minors and the role of recommendation algorithms.

On the school front, the ban on phones in high schools is in effect, with implementation left partly to the discretion of schools , via their internal regulations.

A politically consensual, legally fragile law

The vote in the National Assembly reflects a broad consensus, welcomed in particular by Emmanuel Macron .
However, from a legal standpoint, several areas of tension emerge:

European law limits the ability of a member state to unilaterally impose new obligations on large digital platforms;
certain provisions, particularly those concerning the classification of social networks as publishers via their algorithms, could be challenged;
The very definition of the services concerned remains deliberately broad, which opens the door to divergent interpretations.

In other words, the political signal is strong , but the legal robustness of the system will probably be tested in the coming months.

Disconnecto reading: what this changes for institutions

For schools, this law raises less a question of principle than of concrete implementation .

School leaders find themselves on the front line to define clear, applicable and accepted rules.
Experience from colleges shows that prohibition alone is not enough: without suitable tools, daily management becomes cumbersome and conflictual.
The possibility of derogation zones or times introduces welcome flexibility, but requires a precise framework to avoid arbitrariness.

This development confirms a fundamental trend: the regulation of digital technology is increasingly taking place in schools , which are becoming a key space for the institutional digital pause.

Practical issues and open questions

Several challenges are emerging for institutions:

How can we guarantee fair implementation without turning educational teams into permanent control forces?
What material or organizational measures can accompany the ban without increasing the workload of staff?
How can this law be linked to a coherent educational discourse on digital practices, rather than a simple logic of punishment?

For Disconnecto, this news confirms a growing need for operational solutions , designed for the field, making the digital break applicable, understandable and peaceful.

Source

Article published by Le Monde , January 26, 2026
👉 https://www.lemonde.fr/pixels/article/2026/01/26/l-interdiction-des-reseaux-sociaux-aux-moins-de-15-ans-approuvee-par-les-deputes_6664229_4408996.html