After Australia, France is now also tightening its rules on the use of social media by minors. 
The French National Assembly has passed a law to prohibit children and young people under the age of 15 from accessing social networks. This brings Europe another step closer to binding age limits for digital platforms. 

The bill in France was adopted by a clear majority and is now in the parliamentary process at the Senate. After the final vote, the ban could come into force as early as the beginning of the coming school year in September. The aim is to better protect children from online bullying, excessive screen use and psychological stress.

Clear age limit and obligation to verify age

core of the law is a general ban on the use of social networks for under 15-year-olds. This applies not only to classic platforms, but also to social functions that are integrated with other digital services. Providers are to be obliged to introduce effective age verification systems that are also compatible with EU data protection law.

France is responding to a growing social debate about the impact of digital media on children and young people. Studies and educational associations have been pointing out connections between intensive social media use, lack of sleep, concentration problems and increasing social pressure for years.
 

Emmanuel Macron expressly supports the project. He had repeatedly named social media as a factor in increasing violence and radicalization among young people. France is following the international example of Australia, which in December was the first country in the world to introduce a social media ban for under-16s. Platforms such as Meta Services, TikTok and YouTube, among others, are affected.

Other European countries are also watching this development closely. In Great Britain, Denmark, Spain and Greece, political and legal reviews of similar regulations are currently underway. At EU level, the European Parliament has already called for a uniform minimum age for access to social media, but leaves the concrete implementation to the member states.

Broad approval – but also criticism

In France, the law has met with unusually broad political support. Proponents speak of a necessary step to preserve the mental health of children. A representative survey from 2024 shows that around three-quarters of the French population are in favor of such a ban.

At the same time, there are critical voices. Experts point out that age checks can be technically circumvented and that a ban alone does not replace media literacy. Opinions also differ among young people themselves: While some acknowledge the risks of social media, others find the regulation overly patronizing.

More than social media: mobile phone ban in schools extended

To accompany the social media ban, France is planning to expand existing regulations in schools. The previous ban on smartphones at primary and secondary schools is also to apply to grammar schools in the future. The state is thus pursuing a more comprehensive approach to reduce digital distraction in everyday school life.

If the law finally comes into force, France would be the first EU country with a clear social media ban for under-15s. Observers assume that this step will further accelerate the debate in Europe. The central question remains whether bans are more effective in the long term than education, parental responsibility and media education concepts – or whether a combination of everything is necessary in the end.

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Author: MFRedaktion
Source: REUTERS