France Moves to Ban Social Media for Under-15s, a European First

France is on the verge of enacting a pioneering European law that will prohibit social media access for those under 15. The legislation, a key initiative of President Emmanuel Macron, is slated for final parliamentary approval and aims to take effect by September.

The bill will undergo votes in the Senate and the National Assembly, with expectations that it will pass without significant opposition. New accounts will be subject to the ban from September 1. For existing accounts, the prohibition will be enforced by January 1, 2027, after a four-month grace period during which accounts of under-15s will be closed.

President Macron has personally championed this reform, viewing it as a flagship measure of his presidency. Beyond social media, the law also mandates a ban on mobile phones in high schools, mirroring existing restrictions in middle and elementary schools. However, individual schools may allow exceptions through their internal regulations.

The push for these measures stems from growing concerns over the detrimental effects of social media on young people's well-being. Recent alerts have highlighted these risks, prompting legislative action to safeguard the health of the youth.

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we will go and close the accounts of those under 15 who already existed