France approves a ban on the use of social media for those under 15 years old

The French National Assembly has voted to ban the use of social media for children under the age of 15.

Representatives in Paris adopted the draft law late yesterday evening. The legislation prohibits minors under 15 from accessing social networking services via electronic platforms.

The text still needs to be approved by the Senate, the upper chamber of the French Parliament.

The text approved by the House of Representatives does not precisely specify which social media platforms will be included in the ban measures, but it does clarify that “electronic encyclopedias” as well as “educational or scientific evidence” will be exempt from this. Private messaging services will also not be affected by the ban.

The original version of the bill was less stringent, as it allowed minors to continue using some platforms with parental consent, but this provision was dropped in the current version.

The legislation received basic support from representatives of French President Emmanuel Macron’s camp within the National Assembly.

After the vote, Macron wrote on the “X” platform: “This is what scientists recommend, and this is what the French demand by an overwhelming majority.”

Macron said he wants the measure to take effect at the beginning of the next school year, adding: “As of September 1, our children and young people will finally be protected. I will make sure of that.”

France had tried several years ago to impose a minimum age of 15 to enable teenagers to create their own accounts on social media without parental consent, but the law was not enforceable due to European Union legislation. Whether the new rules are compatible with current EU law remains in question.

Last year, the European Parliament voted by a large majority in favor of calling for setting a uniform minimum level at the European Union level for the use of social media, but the report that was approved has no binding legal force.