France's National Assembly has taken a major step toward banning social media access for individuals under the age of 15, a proposal that has garnered support from President Emmanuel Macron.
On Monday, lawmakers in the lower house agreed on key components of the bill and are poised to vote on the complete text. The legislation is also required to pass through the upper house, known as the Senate.
If enacted, the bill would prohibit young teenagers from using popular social media platforms, including Snapchat, Instagram, and TikTok. This initiative reflects a growing global trend aimed at restricting social media usage for children, driven by increasing concerns over its detrimental impact on mental health, similar to a law enacted in Australia last year.
Laure Miller, a lawmaker advocating for the bill, emphasized the necessity of establishing boundaries in society, arguing that social networks have proven to be harmful rather than beneficial. She expressed concern over how these platforms failed to fulfill their promises of connection, information, and entertainment.
President Macron has expressed the desire to have the ban implemented by the start of the upcoming school year in September. He stated, We cannot leave the mental and emotional health of our children in the hands of people whose sole purpose is to make money out of them.”
The legislation would require the state media regulator to compile a list of social media networks identified as harmful, which would then be banned for users under 15. Furthermore, a secondary list of less harmful platforms could still be accessible, but only with explicit parental consent.
Senator-backed parties in conjunction with pro-Macron factions are anticipated to support this legislation, increasing its likelihood of approval. An additional provision is expected to prohibit mobile phone usage in senior schools (lycées), with a similar restriction already existing in junior and middle schools.
For the law to pass, a robust age verification mechanism will need to be established. A system already mandates that individuals over 18 must verify their age when accessing online pornographic content.
Other European nations, including Denmark, Greece, Spain, and Ireland, are contemplating similar restrictions inspired by Australia’s recent legislation, while the UK government has also initiated discussions about barring social media access for those under 16.
The proposed French law draws extensively from a report by Laure Miller, who led a parliamentary inquiry investigating the psychological effects of social media platforms like TikTok. Given the complexities in Macron's domestic political landscape, this move to ban social media for younger populations appears to be a strategic effort to regain public favor.
