France plans to block social media access for under-15s by next September, following Australia’s lead in a global push to protect children from online risks.
PARIS: France is preparing to ban social media access for children under 15 starting next September.
The draft law, backed by President Emmanuel Macron, aims to protect minors from the risks of excessive screen time.
It follows a similar ban on under-16s recently imposed in Australia.
The government cited studies linking unfettered online access to exposure to inappropriate content, cyber-harassment, and disrupted sleep patterns.
The proposed legislation contains two key articles.
One would make it illegal for online platforms to provide social media services to minors under 15.
The second calls for a ban on mobile phone use in secondary schools.
Macron has identified the digital protection of minors as a government priority.
Enforcement of such rules has historically been a challenge in France.
A 2018 ban on mobile phones in pre-schools and middle-schools is rarely enforced.
A previous 2023 law setting a “digital legal age” of 15 was blocked for contravening European Union rules.
The French Senate this month backed a separate initiative requiring parental authorisation for children aged 13 to 16 to register on social media sites.
That proposal has been submitted to the National Assembly for approval.
