France Considers Social Media Ban for Under-15s, Joining Global Trend

France is moving towards becoming the first European Union member to legally restrict social media access for minors, with a proposed law aiming to ban users under 15 from the platforms. The bill, approved by both the French Senate and National Assembly, awaits final review by the Constitutional Council before potentially taking effect on September 1.

If enacted, the law would prohibit French citizens under 15 from creating new social media accounts. Platform operators would be granted a four-month grace period to shut down existing accounts belonging to underage users. This move reflects a growing global trend of governments seeking to regulate youth access to social media.

Australia has already implemented measures preventing individuals under 16 from opening or holding social media accounts since last year. The United Kingdom is also pursuing legislation to ban social media use for those under 16. South Korea is similarly reviewing regulations, with the Korea Communications Commission proposing restrictions on account creation for those under 14 and limiting exposure to addictive features like "infinite scroll" for users under 19.

The push for age verification and digital age limits signals a broader international effort to define a "digital coming of age" through legislation, addressing concerns about the impact of social media on young people's well-being.