The French government is making plans to limit social media access for children. President Emmanuel Macron announced his intention to create a legislative measure which would prohibit children below 15 years old from accessing all social media platforms.
Parliamentary Approval Process
- Macron stated that lawmakers in the lower house of the French parliament have supported the proposed bill. The Senate will receive the bill for its discussion after the current stage. The Senate needs to complete its review before making a final decision.
- French officials revealed that the Senate will probably pass the bill before February ends.
Reasons Behind the Decision
The main objective of the law according to Macron exists to decrease health problems and mental health conditions that arise from extended screen use among children. The government holds the view that excessive social media usage negatively impacts the physical health and mental growth of youngsters.
Implementation Timeline
- The new regulations will begin to operate on September 1 after the authorities grant their approval. Social media companies must finish their process of deleting accounts which belong to users below 15 years old by December 31.
- The bill also includes a separate provision that bans mobile phone use by children in schools.
Global Context
France will become the second nation to establish a national prohibition against social media access for young users if the law receives enforcement. Australia has already enforced a similar prohibition which prevents children under 16 from using social media. Other nations are also exploring similar restrictions.
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