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France has taken a significant step towards tightening restrictions on children's use of social media after lawmakers reached a compromise on legislation that would prohibit access to major online platforms for users younger than 15.
A joint committee tasked with reconciling differences between the two chambers of Parliament approved the draft law on Monday, paving the way for final debates in the National Assembly and the Senate. If the measure receives parliamentary approval, President Emmanuel Macron wants the new rules to be operational before pupils return to school in early September.
The proposed legislation reflects growing concern across Europe about the impact of social media on children's wellbeing and online safety. Macron has been one of the most vocal advocates for stronger protections for young users and has repeatedly urged European partners to adopt similar safeguards.
Under the bill, France's Information Technology minister would be responsible for drawing up an official list of social media services covered by the ban. Platforms included on that list would be required to prevent children under the age of 15 from creating or using accounts.
To enforce the restrictions, social media companies would also need to introduce age-verification systems that meet standards approved by France's data protection authority. The requirement is intended to ensure that platforms take responsibility for verifying users' ages rather than relying on self-declared information.
The legislation goes beyond online platforms. It also proposes prohibiting the use of smartphones in high schools, extending France's broader efforts to reduce digital distractions in educational settings and encourage greater focus during the school day.
Should the measure become law, France would join a growing list of countries seeking stricter controls on children's access to social media. Australia became the first nation to pass legislation banning under-16s from accessing major platforms, including Meta-owned Facebook, Snapchat, TikTok and YouTube, after its Parliament approved the measure in December.
The French government's initiative also aligns with a wider debate within the European Union over children's digital safety. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has recently expressed support for limiting minors' access to social media across the 27-member bloc, signalling that the issue is gaining momentum beyond individual national governments.
The reconciled bill is scheduled to be examined by lawmakers in the National Assembly on Tuesday before moving to the Senate later the same day, bringing France closer to implementing one of Europe's most stringent social media restrictions for young users.
A joint committee tasked with reconciling differences between the two chambers of Parliament approved the draft law on Monday, paving the way for final debates in the National Assembly and the Senate. If the measure receives parliamentary approval, President Emmanuel Macron wants the new rules to be operational before pupils return to school in early September.
The proposed legislation reflects growing concern across Europe about the impact of social media on children's wellbeing and online safety. Macron has been one of the most vocal advocates for stronger protections for young users and has repeatedly urged European partners to adopt similar safeguards.
Under the bill, France's Information Technology minister would be responsible for drawing up an official list of social media services covered by the ban. Platforms included on that list would be required to prevent children under the age of 15 from creating or using accounts.
To enforce the restrictions, social media companies would also need to introduce age-verification systems that meet standards approved by France's data protection authority. The requirement is intended to ensure that platforms take responsibility for verifying users' ages rather than relying on self-declared information.
The legislation goes beyond online platforms. It also proposes prohibiting the use of smartphones in high schools, extending France's broader efforts to reduce digital distractions in educational settings and encourage greater focus during the school day.
Should the measure become law, France would join a growing list of countries seeking stricter controls on children's access to social media. Australia became the first nation to pass legislation banning under-16s from accessing major platforms, including Meta-owned Facebook, Snapchat, TikTok and YouTube, after its Parliament approved the measure in December.
The French government's initiative also aligns with a wider debate within the European Union over children's digital safety. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has recently expressed support for limiting minors' access to social media across the 27-member bloc, signalling that the issue is gaining momentum beyond individual national governments.
The reconciled bill is scheduled to be examined by lawmakers in the National Assembly on Tuesday before moving to the Senate later the same day, bringing France closer to implementing one of Europe's most stringent social media restrictions for young users.
