France Proposes Social Media Ban for Under-15s

The French government has introduced a new proposal to restrict social media access for children under the age of 15. The move comes after an earlier law aimed at limiting social media use by young people was overturned by France’s highest legal authority in August.

The Constitutional Council had ruled that parts of the previous law could unfairly restrict freedom of expression. Following that decision, the government has prepared a new plan that aims to address the legal concerns while still protecting children from the possible harmful effects of social media.

French President Emmanuel Macron announced the updated proposal on X. He said the plan had been prepared with careful attention to technical and legal details. The proposal has also been shared with the European Commission because France needs to ensure that any new rules comply with European Union regulations.

Restricting social media access for children has become an important issue for Macron. He has made the protection of young people online one of his priorities and wants the new restrictions to be introduced before his presidency ends next year.

Macron has also called for similar rules to be introduced across the European Union. He believes that a common approach among EU countries could provide stronger protection for children and avoid different rules being applied in different countries.

The issue is gaining attention across Europe as governments examine the impact of social media on young people. Concerns include excessive screen time, online safety and the possible effects of social media on children’s well-being.

EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen is also expected to discuss possible EU-wide rules on children’s access to social media in an upcoming speech. Her comments could provide more details about how the European Union may approach the issue in the future.

France’s new proposal will now need to go through the necessary legal and European procedures before it can become law. The government hopes its revised approach will overcome the problems that affected the previous legislation.

The debate highlights the growing challenge governments face in balancing children’s online safety with freedom of expression and access to digital platforms. As more countries consider restrictions on social media for young people, France’s new plan could become an important part of the wider European discussion.