French parliament passes social media ban for under-15s

France's parliament has passed a bill prohibiting children under 15 from using social media platforms, making it the first EU country to enact such a broad ban. The legislation, championed by President Emmanuel Macron, also prohibits mobile phone use in schools. Macron aims for the ban to be effective before the upcoming school year in September, though a constitutional review could delay implementation. This measure addresses growing global concerns about the detrimental impact of digital content on young people, with France's public health watchdog previously identifying platforms like TikTok, Snapchat, and Instagram as harmful to adolescents.

France's parliament has approved a bill that will ban social media access for children under 15, making it the first European country to implement such a restriction. President Emmanuel Macron has advocated for this ban as a significant reform, aiming for enforcement by September. The legislation, which also includes a ban on mobile phones in high schools starting next school year, passed the National Assembly with 279 votes in favor. Macron stated that France is taking a leading role in Europe in protecting young people online. The bill now awaits a ruling from the Constitutional Council before becoming law. This move comes as a growing number of countries are enacting measures to limit social media use due to concerns about its impact on children.

France's parliament has approved a bill banning social media access for children under 15, making it the first European country to do so. Championed by President Emmanuel Macron, the reform aims to protect children and teenagers online and is slated for enforcement by September. The ban will initially block new account creation from September 1st, with existing accounts affected from January 2027. Age verification tools will be used to implement the rule, with platforms responsible for compliance. This legislation follows warnings from France's public health watchdog about the harmful effects of social media on adolescents. While some debated the approach, a blanket ban for under-15s prevailed over a tiered system.