French lawmakers have approved a bill banning social media access for children under the age of 15. This measure makes France the first country in the European Union to implement such a blanket ban, following similar moves in Australia and Indonesia.
Championed by President Emmanuel Macron as a major reform of his final term in office, the ban is intended to take effect by September, in time for the start of the new school year. The legislation also includes a ban on mobile phones in high schools. Additionally, social media platforms in France will be required to verify the age of all users starting in January.
The move comes amid growing worldwide concerns regarding the harmful effects of digital content on the health and safety of minors. In France, the vote was applauded by parents and children's advocates, following instances where families sued TikTok over teen suicides they say are linked to harmful content.
Despite the approval, the law faces a constitutional review and unresolved questions concerning age verification and the status of existing accounts. While France is the first EU nation to pass this ban, other countries including Greece, Slovenia, and Sweden are also planning to restrict social media use for minors.