French parliament backs social media ban for under-15s

France is poised to become the first European nation to implement a digital age limit for social media, with parliament set to approve a bill banning access for children under 15. President Emmanuel Macron has championed the legislation as a key reform of his final term, with enforcement planned by September. The bill overwhelmingly passed the Senate and was expected to clear the National Assembly.

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France will become the first country in Europe to introduce a digital age limit to better protect our children online.

This initiative responds to mounting global concerns over the detrimental effects of social media on children. French Digital Minister Anne Le Henanff stated, "France will become the first country in Europe to introduce a digital age limit to better protect our children online." The ban will be phased in: under-15s will be blocked from creating new accounts from September 1, 2024, and this restriction will extend to existing accounts by January 2027.

Minister Le Henanff assured that the timeline is feasible, citing the availability of age-verification tools and ongoing development of others. Platforms will be responsible for enforcing the rule. "For four months, all of us in France will have to prove our age," she explained. "If someone is under fifteen, the account will be closed." The minister also emphasized the protection of users' personal data. The September implementation aligns with the start of the French school year, coinciding with another provision of the bill: a ban on mobile phones in high schools.

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

France's public health agency previously identified platforms like TikTok, Snapchat, and Instagram as harmful to adolescents, particularly girls, though not the sole cause of declining mental health. While lawmakers agreed on the need for regulation, disagreements arose over the approach. Senators initially favored a tiered system distinguishing harmful platforms from those accessible with parental consent. However, the lower house's broader ban prevailed, despite criticisms regarding age verification, implementation speed, circumvention risks, and privacy. Exceptions are made for educational platforms and online encyclopedias, with no penalties for children or parents. Lawmaker Laure Miller expressed confidence that major platforms are "largely ready" for the changes.

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