French Parliament Approves Bill Banning Social Media for Children Under 15

French Parliament Approves Bill Banning Social Media for Children Under 15
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The French Parliament has approved a bill prohibiting children under the age of 15 from accessing social media platforms a move President Emmanuel Macron praised as a key step to protect children from excessive screen time and online risks.

According to reports viewed by the Shia Waves Agency, the legislation was passed with 130 votes in favor and 21 against during a marathon session that extended into the early hours of Tuesday. It will now be sent to the Senate for approval before becoming law.

In a post on X (formerly Twitter), President Macron described the bill as a “major step” to safeguard French children and teenagers. The law also includes a ban on mobile phones in secondary schools, making France the second country after Australia, which in December restricted social media use for children under 16.

Former French Prime Minister Gabriel Attal stated he hopes the Senate will approve the bill by mid-February, allowing the ban to take effect on September 1. Social media platforms will have until December 31 to deactivate existing accounts that do not meet the minimum age requirement.

The French Agency for Food, Environmental and Occupational Health and Safety has highlighted the risks of platforms such as TikTok, Snapchat, and Instagram, including cyberbullying and exposure to violent content, particularly affecting adolescent girls. Effective age-verification systems are currently being developed at the European level to enforce the law.