French lawmakers are expected to approve a bill banning social media access for children under 15 on Tuesday, positioning France at the forefront of similar efforts in the European Union. Parliamentarians from the upper and lower houses reached a compromise on the bill's text on Monday, paving the way for a vote on its final adoption, which is expected to pass despite criticism from parties on the left.
Government's Commitment
French Digital Minister Anne Le Henanff announced on X that France will become the first country in Europe to introduce a digital age limit to better protect children online. President Emmanuel Macron has championed the law as a flagship reform of his final term in office and pledged to enforce it by September, meaning another element of the bill, a mobile phone ban in secondary schools, would be in place by the beginning of the school year.
Implementation Details
The social media rule is expected to be rolled out in two stages. From September 1, under-15s will be blocked from creating new accounts. The ban will apply to existing accounts from January 2027. Exceptions are provided for sites such as online encyclopedias and educational platforms.
Challenges and Context
Enforcement of regulations will face the challenge of setting up effective age verification systems. Lawmaker Laure Miller told AFP platforms will be expected to integrate 'the tool or tools' of their choice for this purpose. France's public health watchdog last year said platforms such as TikTok, Snapchat, and Instagram were detrimental to adolescents, particularly girls, though it was not the sole reason for their declining mental health.
