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France Approves Social Media Ban for Under-15s, Pioneering European Measure
🇵🇾 Paraguay /Culture & Society

France Approves Social Media Ban for Under-15s, Pioneering European Measure

From ABC Color · () Spanish

Translated from Spanish, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Sources not specified Approved/passed
  • France has definitively approved a law banning social media access for minors under 15.
  • The legislation, a first in Europe, aims to protect young people online and is expected to take effect at the start of the next school year.
  • The law requires digital platforms to implement age verification mechanisms, with potential exceptions for educational sites like Wikipedia.

France has become the first European nation to enact a general ban on social media access for individuals under 15 years old. The groundbreaking law, championed by President Emmanuel Macron as a commitment fulfilled in the final stretch of his presidency, received definitive approval from the French Parliament.

Macron celebrated the decision, emphasizing its role in protecting children and adolescents online. "France leads the way in Europe to protect our children and adolescents. We are moving forward," he stated in a social media video. The law now awaits a review by the Constitutional Council before its implementation.

France leads the way in Europe to protect our children and adolescents. We are moving forward.

— Emmanuel MacronFrench President Emmanuel Macron commented on the law's approval via social media.

The legislation passed the Senate with a strong majority of 243 votes in favor and two against, followed by ratification in the National Assembly with 279 votes for and 81 against. This culminates months of parliamentary deliberation. The ban applies to social media services offered by digital platforms, with specific exclusions for resources like online encyclopedias and open-source educational projects.

I committed to it and now it is approved: social media will be banned for those under 15 from the start of the school year.

— Emmanuel MacronMacron shared a video on X, formerly Twitter, confirming the law's passage.

While the law mandates age verification, it leaves the implementation of specific mechanisms to platforms such as Facebook and TikTok. The ban on mobile phone use in secondary schools is also extended, though schools may allow exceptions. The government plans for the prohibition to take effect on September 1 for new accounts, with existing accounts having a four-month grace period until January 1, 2027.

Anne Le Hénanff, the minister delegate for Digital Affairs, highlighted France's pioneering role in establishing a digital age of 15. She also noted that fifteen European countries, including Spain, are considering similar regulations. Australia previously introduced a comparable restriction.

France is a pioneer in Europe by establishing a digital age of 15.

— Anne Le HénanffThe minister delegate for Digital Affairs spoke before the Senate.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by ABC Color in Spanish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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