(NewsNation) — France is seeking to implement a social media ban on children under the age of 15 and a prohibition on mobile phones in high schools starting September 2026, local outlets reported last month.

President Emmanuel Macron has repeatedly pointed to social media as one of the factors contributing to violence among young people and has indicated that he’d like France to follow in Australia’s footsteps.

On Dec. 10, Australia began enforcing a first-of-its-kind ban restricting all social media accounts for users under the age of 16.

“Many studies and reports now confirm the various risks caused by excessive use of digital screens by adolescents,” a draft law states, according to local outlet Le Monde.

Macron said in December that Parliament should start debating the proposal this month, and The Council of State will give its opinion on the bill on January 8, according to the outlet.

Macron didn’t mention the proposed legislation in a New Year’s Eve address, but did pledge to “protect our children and teenagers from social media and screens.”

Mobile phones have been banned in French elementary and middle schools since 2018; the new legislation would extend that ban to high schools.

Macron said in June he would push for regulation at the European Union level to ban access to social media for all children under the age of 15 following a fatal stabbing at a school in eastern France.

Reuters contributed to this report.