France Enacts Landmark Social Media Ban for Children Under 15
France has become the first country in the European Union to approve legislation banning children under the age of 15 from using social media platforms, in a landmark move aimed at strengthening online safety and protecting young people’s mental health.
The measure was passed by French lawmakers on Tuesday following growing concerns over the impact of social media on children, including exposure to harmful content, cyberbullying, addictive online behaviour and its effects on mental well-being.
The legislation also bans ads promoting social media to children, including by influencers, and therefore requires advertisements for social media platforms to carry the warning: “Dangerous products for children under 15.”
Under the new law, social media companies will be required to prevent users under the age of 15 from creating or maintaining accounts on their platforms. The legislation places greater responsibility on technology firms to implement robust age verification systems to ensure compliance.
The new law will be enforced by Arcom which is the audiovisual and digital communications regulator in France. It is expected to apply to all the major platforms.
According to Arcom, children aged 12 to 17 in France spend an average of 1 hour and 21 minutes a day on TikTok. The regulator says the platform’s recommendation algorithm tends to promote the most “extreme” content, exposing teenagers to a continuous stream of anxiety-inducing or otherwise harmful videos.
The law marks a significant step in France’s efforts to regulate children’s access to digital platforms and reflects increasing concern among policymakers across Europe about the influence of social media on minors.
Supporters of the legislation argue that restricting access will help shield children from online risks while encouraging healthier digital habits and greater parental involvement in internet use. They say the measure is designed to create a safer online environment for young people during their formative years.
However, the legislation is also expected to spark debate over privacy, the effectiveness of age verification technologies and how the restrictions will be enforced. Digital rights advocates have previously cautioned that age verification requirements must strike a balance between protecting children and safeguarding users’ privacy.
France’s decision is likely to intensify discussions across the European Union on stricter regulation of social media platforms and the protection of children in the digital age, with other member states expected to closely monitor the implementation and impact of the new law.
The move comes amid a broader global push by governments to introduce stronger safeguards for children online as concerns continue to mount over excessive screen time, online exploitation and the psychological effects of social media use on young people. If implemented successfully, the law could set a precedent for other European countries considering stricter control of minors’ access to social media platforms.
Source: CNN
Author: Joyce Owusu
