France became the first European Union country to approve a blanket social media ban for children under 15 on Tuesday, as lawmakers moved to curb young users’ exposure to addictive design and harmful content.
Lawmakers Approve Ban Ahead Of September
Parents Describe Harm Linked To Platforms
“We’ve been campaigning for this bill from the start because, frankly, we have no other option, no other way to counter tech giants,” Paris-area parent Gaëlle Berbonde told AP. “The only thing we can do is protect our children, just as we protect our children from drinking alcohol.”
“France is leading the way in Europe in protecting our children and our teenagers,” Macron said. “We will keep on going.”
Benzinga has reached out to all the social media platforms mentioned for comment but did not receive an immediate response.
Enforcement Questions And Global Pressure Grow
The law excludes online encyclopedias and educational or scientific directories. France Unbowed lawmakers opposed it, warning that age checks could erode anonymity and prove impossible to enforce. Ines Legendre of child-protection group e-Enfance said officials still must determine how to identify and suspend existing accounts.
French health data cited by AP showed that 90% of 12- to 17-year-olds use smartphones daily to access the internet, while 58% use them for social networks. The report linked heavy use with lower self-esteem and greater exposure to self-harm, drug-use and suicide content.
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