France Plans Ban on Social Media Use for Children Under 15
News Summary
Reviewed.
- The French government has proposed a new law to ban social media use for children under 15 years old.
- President Emmanuel Macron informed the European Commission of the revised draft and expects the ban to be implemented next year.
- After the Constitutional Council annulled the previous law citing excessive interference with freedom of expression, the government has prepared a new draft with legal and technical improvements.
September 19, Paris (RSP/AFP) – The French government has introduced a new legal proposal to prohibit social media use by children under the age of 15. President Emmanuel Macron announced on Monday that the government has submitted a revised draft to the European Commission. This move follows the annulment of a previous law by the Constitutional Council.
Macron has made preventing the negative impact of social media on children and teenagers a top priority. He expressed hope that the ban would be enforced before the end of his current presidential term next year.
Last August, France’s Constitutional Council invalidated parts of the earlier law on the grounds that certain provisions excessively interfered with freedom of expression. In response, the government has developed a new draft that incorporates legal and technical adjustments.
Macron has also urged other European Union member states to adopt similar measures to protect children from social media exposure. The new proposal has been communicated to the Commission to ensure compatibility with European Union regulations.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen is expected to address potential EU-wide restrictions on social media use for children during a speech in Brussels this week. Concerns over the adverse effects of social media on young people are mounting, prompting several countries to implement measures limiting access.