French children under the age of 15 are set to be prohibited from using social media platforms, making France the first country in the European Union to enforce such a restriction. The French parliament unanimously approved this measure today, with President Emmanuel Macron pushing for its implementation before the upcoming school year.
This decision to implement a comprehensive ban reflects global concerns about the negative impacts of digital content on young individuals. It serves as a prominent initiative in Macron’s current term. Alongside this restriction, students will also be forbidden from using mobile phones within high school premises, as reported by The Express. The move has garnered praise from child advocates and parents alike.
Gaëlle Berbonde, a resident of the Paris region, expressed support for the legislation, emphasizing the necessity to shield children from technology giants. Macron commended the parliament’s support for the law, asserting that France is leading efforts in Europe to safeguard the youth. The President emphasized the significance of this step in a video shared on social media.
The next step involves the Constitutional Council’s review of the legislation, after which concrete actions will be taken to enforce the rule and ensure children’s online safety. A similar regulation is anticipated in the UK, where individuals under 16 will also face restrictions on accessing social media platforms. The law is expected to take effect by the following spring.
The government’s groundbreaking decision, announced earlier in June, aims to establish a new standard for future generations, initiating a cultural transformation and advancing the government’s commitment to providing every child with a promising start in life. The ban specifically targets prominent social media platforms like Snapchat, TikTok, YouTube, Instagram, and Facebook while exempting messaging services such as WhatsApp.
