French lawmakers have reached agreement on legislation that would ban children under the age of 15 from accessing social media platforms, moving the country closer to introducing one of Europe’s toughest online safety measures for minors.
A parliamentary reconciliation committee approved the bill on Monday after lawmakers from both chambers agreed on a final version of the legislation.
President Emmanuel Macron has said he wants the ban to take effect before the start of the new school year in early September.
If enacted, France would become one of the first countries in Europe to introduce a nationwide social media ban for children under 15, following Australia’s landmark legislation restricting access for users under 16.
The proposed law would empower the Information Technology Minister to determine which social media platforms are covered by the ban.
Companies operating those platforms would be required to implement age verification systems approved by France’s data protection authority to prevent underage users from accessing their services.
The agreed text is scheduled to be debated in the National Assembly on Tuesday before moving to the Senate for final approval.
In addition to the social media restrictions, the legislation would prohibit the use of smartphones in French high schools as part of broader efforts to reduce digital distractions among students.
The proposal comes amid growing support across Europe for stronger protections for children online. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has also backed measures aimed at limiting minors’ access to social media platforms across the European Union.
