According to France's health watchdog, one in two teenagers spends between two and five hours a day on their smartphone.
French President Emmanuel Macron has said that he wants to speed up the legal process to ensure that a ban on social media for children under the age of 15 can come into force by the start of the new school year in September.
In a video released on Saturday by French broadcaster BFM-TV, Macron said he had asked his government to initiate an accelerated procedure so that the bill could progress as quickly as possible and be adopted by the Senate in time.
“The brains of our children and our teenagers are not for sale," Macron said. “The emotions of our children and our teenagers are not for sale or to be manipulated. Neither by American platforms, nor by Chinese algorithms.”
Macron's statement comes just days after the British government said it was considering banning young teenagers from social networks as part of a tightening of laws designed to protect children from harmful content and excessive screen time.
According to France's health watchdog ANSES (National Agency for Food, Environmental and Occupational Health and Safety), one in two teenagers spends between two and five hours a day on their smartphone. In a report published in December, it said that almost 90% of young people aged 12 to 17 use a smartphone every day to access the internet, and that 58% of them use their devices for social networks.
The report highlighted a number of harmful effects associated with the use of social networks, including reduced self-esteem and increased exposure to content associated with risky behaviour such as self-harm, drug use and suicide. Several French families have lodged complaints against TikTok following teenage suicides that they believe are linked to dangerous content.
"We're banning social networks for under-15s and we're going to ban mobile phones in our high schools," said Macron. "I think this is a clear rule. Clear for our teenagers, clear for families, clear for teachers, and we are moving forward."
Referencing the relevant bill that will be examined in a public session on Monday, he added that the "much simpler text that corresponds to the promise made, i.e. to ban social networks for minors under the age of 15" as well as "the ban on mobile phones in our high schools".
In Australia, social media companies have revoked access to around 4.7 million accounts identified as belonging to children since the ban on their use by those who are under 16.
The law has sparked heated debate in Australia about the use of technology, privacy, safety and the mental health of children, and has prompted other countries to consider similar measures.