French lawmakers pass law banning social media use by children under 15; first EU country to do so
France approved a nationwide ban on social media for children under 15 on Tuesday, becoming the first EU country to impose such sweeping restrictions as governments grapple with the impact of digital platforms on young users.The legislation, backed by both houses of parliament, is one of the final flagship measures of President Emmanuel Macron’s second term. In addition to restricting social media use for children under 15, the law bans cell phone use in high schools.Macron wants the ban to take effect when the new school year begins in September, but it is expected to undergo a constitutional review before being implemented. “France leads Europe in protecting our children and adolescents. We will continue to move forward,” Macron said after the bill passed.The law excludes online encyclopedias and educational and scientific directories.The move comes amid growing concerns about the impact of social media on children’s mental health. Several French families have filed lawsuits against TikTok, accusing harmful content of causing teen suicides. “We have been campaigning for this bill from the beginning because, frankly, we have no other option, no other way to fight Big Tech. The only thing we can do is protect our children, just like we protect our children from drinking,” said Gaëlle Berbonde, whose daughter battles anorexia, depression and self-harm after using social media.Critics, however, question the practicality and legality of the measure. Lawmakers from France’s left-wing Indies party believe the law may be difficult to enforce and have expressed concerns about its constitutionality and its impact on online anonymity.According to the French health watchdog, nearly 90% of children aged 12 to 17 use smartphones to access the Internet every day, while 58% use smartphones to browse social media. The agency linked excessive use of social media to lower self-esteem and greater exposure to harmful content, including content related to self-harm, drug use and suicide.France joins a growing number of countries tightening rules on social media use by children. Australia has approved a ban on users under 16, while Spain, Denmark, Greece and the UK are considering similar restrictions. The European Commission is also reviewing EU-wide measures to strengthen the protection of children online.
