France becomes first EU country to ban social media access for under-15s
France’s parliament has approved a bill banning social media access for children under 15, making it the first EU country to bar children from apps such as TikTok.
The president, Emmanuel Macron, has championed the ban as a key reform of his final term in office and pledged to enforce it by September.
“France is leading the way in Europe when it comes to protecting our children and teenagers,” Macron said in a video posted on social media, hailing “a major step forward”.
He thanked members of parliament for backing the legislation on Tuesday.
“The Constitutional Council must now rule on it, and then it will be time to take action to make this measure a reality and protect our children online,” he added on X.
After approval by the Senate earlier on Tuesday, members of the National Assembly passed the bill by 279 votes to 81.
A growing number of countries are taking steps to restrict social media access amid multiplying warnings over its harmful effects on children. [Continue reading…]