France bans social media for children and young people by parliament decision

The lower house of the French parliament has approved a ban on access to social media for children and young people under the age of 15. The text was voted 116 votes in favor and 23 against.

“The emotions of our children and teenagers are not for sale or manipulation, neither by American platforms nor by Chinese algorithms,“ President Emmanuel Macron said in a video broadcast on Saturday. Former prime minister Gabriel Attal, who chairs Macron's party in the lower house of parliament, said he hoped the Senate would confirm the ban within three weeks so it could take effect in the new school year starting September 1. Social media platforms will have until December 31 to deactivate existing accounts, which will then be illegal.

Agence France-Presse notes that with the growing use of social media, there is growing concern that young people are spending too much time in front of screens, which is negatively affecting their mental health. Similar to a law banning social media introduced in Australia late last year, the French text also provides for a ban on mobile phones in high schools.