French lawmakers have passed a landmark bill banning social media access for children under 15, making France the first European country to set digital age limits.The bill was approved by the Senate on Tuesday and is expected to be passed by the lower house later in the day after an agreement on the text on Monday. Digital Minister Anne Le Henonf said France would become “the first country in Europe to introduce digital age limits to improve the online safety of our children.”“President Emmanuel Macron has championed the law as a major reform of his final term in office and has promised to implement it by September.
How will the ban work?
- The social media rules will be implemented in two phases:
- Starting September 1, people under 15 will be barred from creating new accounts
- The ban will be applicable on existing accounts from January 2027
- Exceptions are provided for sites such as online encyclopedias and educational platforms.
- Platforms will be required to use an age verification tool approved by France’s privacy regulator.
Lawmakers agreed on the need for regulation after repeated warnings over the harmful effects of social media on children. France’s public health watchdog said last year that platforms like TikTok, Snapchat and Instagram were harmful to teenagers, especially girls.France joins more than 20 countries that have taken steps toward regulating children’s social media access. In December last year, Australia became the first country in the world to require platforms to remove the accounts of children under 16.The European Commission is working on its own rules to rein in social media across Europe to protect young people. Last week, EU chief Ursula von der Leyen said children should get “phased and gradual access” to social media.Macron, who in April urged young people to turn off their phones and start reading, said: “We left you in this jungle and it took away your attention. We need to slow down and help you become adults and above all citizens. So what we want to do is say that before the age of 15, no more social media.”