French lawmakers are in a race against time to finalize legislation that would ban social media access for children under 15, with the goal of having it enacted before the new school year commences in September. A joint committee of seven national assembly members and seven senators convened Monday to seek an agreement on the bill, which could face a final vote later this week. The European Commission has previously indicated that a recent version of the bill was not fully compliant with European Union law.
French President Emmanuel Macron has expressed strong support for the ban, which may represent one of the last significant legislative measures of his presidency. A key point of contention between the National Assembly and the Senate centers on the scope of the platforms to be affected. The National Assembly initially proposed a ban on all online social networking services, while the Senate advocated for a curated blacklist. The legislation would exclude online encyclopedias, educational or scientific directories, and platforms for open-source software development.
The bill, intended to align with the EU Digital Services Act—a regulation designed to enhance online user safety—has faced scrutiny from the European Commission. While the commission shares the objective of protecting minors, it stated that the proposed French law overlaps with the existing EU act and requested amendments. The Senate contends that the EU Commission did not challenge the concept of a blacklist itself, but rather raised concerns about provisions that grant excessive authority to France's regulatory body for audiovisual and digital communication.
"Everyone must rise to the importance of the issue at stake, which is nothing less than protecting the physical and mental health of our children,” the Senate said in a statement. If an agreement is reached in the joint committee, the bill could proceed to a final vote in both legislative chambers as early as Tuesday. However, due to EU notification requirements, the law cannot be passed before August 10.
Data from France's health watchdog indicates a significant prevalence of smartphone use among teenagers, with one in two spending between two and five hours daily on their devices. A December report revealed that approximately 90% of children aged 12 to 17 use smartphones daily to access the internet, and 58% of them utilize these devices for social media.
The report also highlighted the detrimental effects of social media use on young people, including diminished self-esteem and increased exposure to content promoting risky behaviors such as self-harm, drug use, and suicide. The issue has gained further attention as several French families have initiated legal action against TikTok, alleging that harmful content on the platform contributed to teen suicides.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has previously called for restrictions on children's social media usage. A specialized EU panel recommended barring access for children under 13 until technology companies can demonstrate the safety of their platforms. Growing global concern over the impact of social media on the developing minds of children has led to a series of new restrictions worldwide. Countries including Australia, the United Kingdom, Turkey, and Indonesia have already implemented bans for children under 15 or 16 from using platforms such as TikTok, YouTube, and Instagram.
Von der Leyen has also voiced concerns about addictive features on social media, such as infinite scrolling, which she believes tech companies must address. She further stated that children under three should have no screen exposure at all. The European Commission is expected to present a proposal for consideration by the 27 member states in the near future.