French Lawmakers Endorse Social Media Prohibition for Under-15s

A reconciliation committee within France's Parliament has agreed upon a bill to restrict access to social media platforms for individuals below 15 years of age. This legislative action moves towards implementing new digital regulations. French President Emmanuel Macron has stated his intention for the ban to be effective by the commencement of the academic term in early Sept.

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This move follows a precedent set by Australia, which previously enacted the world's first such prohibition for under-16s. Australia's ban targeted platforms including Meta Platforms' Facebook, Snap's Snapchat, Bytedance's TikTok, and Alphabet's YouTube. Such national measures indicate an evolving regulatory landscape for Big Tech organisations globally.

And President Macron has actively sought support for this ban across the European Union and other regions. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has recently voiced her backing for limiting children's exposure to social media within the 27-country bloc. These discussions signal a growing international concern regarding online access for younger users.

The reconciled text of the bill will proceed to the Lower House for discussion, followed by consideration in the Senate. This legislative path is standard for significant governmental proposals. Furthermore, the Information Technology minister will be tasked with compiling an official list of social networks that will be prohibited for children and teenagers younger than 15 years old, defining the scope of the new regulation.

So, social media platforms operating in France will be compelled to establish robust systems for age verification. These systems must secure approval from the French privacy regulator, ensuring compliance with national data protection and child safety standards. The requirement places a direct operational responsibility on Big Tech companies.

The proposed bill also extends its reach to educational institutions, introducing a prohibition on the use of smartphones within high schools. This measure signals a broader strategy to manage digital device usage among young people, moving beyond social media access alone. According to Reuters, the legislative efforts indicate a concerted drive by French authorities to control digital interaction for minors.

• French Parliament committee approved a bill to ban social media access for those under 15.

• President Macron aims for implementation by early Sept.

• Australia established a similar ban for under-16s on major platforms previously.

• The bill requires social media platforms to implement age verification systems approved by the French privacy regulator.

• The legislation also includes a ban on smartphone use in high schools.

Source: Reuters