France becomes first European country to ban social media for under-15s

France has taken a pioneering step in Europe by enacting a law to ban social media access for children under 15. President Emmanuel Macron has championed the legislation, calling it a "major step forward" in protecting young people online. The ban is slated for enforcement by September, with age-verification measures to be implemented.

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France is leading the way in Europe when it comes to protecting our children and teenagers.

The bill, which passed the National Assembly with a significant majority, aims to address growing concerns about the detrimental effects of social media on children's mental health. France's public health watchdog has previously identified platforms like TikTok, Snapchat, and Instagram as harmful to adolescents.

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The Constitutional Council must now rule on it, and then it will be time to take action to make this measure a reality and protect our children online.

While lawmakers largely agreed on the need for regulation, the final legislation reflects a blanket ban, overriding a more nuanced approach initially favored by the Senate. This approach faced some criticism regarding the speed of implementation, potential for circumvention, and privacy implications. However, proponents argue that major platforms are largely prepared for the changes, and the timeline is realistic given existing age-verification tools.

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For four months, all of us in France will have to prove our age. If someone is under 15, the account will be closed.

The ban is part of a broader initiative, with a separate provision prohibiting mobile phones in high schools set to take effect at the start of the French school year. Exceptions are made for educational platforms and online encyclopedias, and the law does not specify penalties for children or parents.

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The major platforms are, in my view, largely ready.