Key facts
- A French Parliament committee has agreed on a bill to ban social media access for individuals under 15.
- The bill also proposes a ban on smartphone use in high schools.
- Social media platforms will be required to implement age verification systems.
- The legislation aims to be in effect by the start of the school year in early September.
- France would join Australia in enacting such a ban for minors.
A reconciliation committee of France's Parliament has agreed on a bill that would ban access to social media for individuals under the age of 15. French President Emmanuel Macron has expressed a desire for the ban to be implemented by the start of the school year in early September. This move would position France similarly to Australia, which previously enacted a ban for those under 16 on platforms like Facebook, Snapchat, TikTok, and YouTube.
The proposed legislation will undergo further discussion in the Lower House on Tuesday, followed by a review in the Senate. The Information Technology minister is tasked with creating a list of social networks that will be prohibited for children and teenagers younger than 15. Social media companies will be required to establish age verification systems that have received approval from the French privacy regulator. Additionally, the bill includes a provision to ban the use of smartphones in high schools.