France Passes Ban on Social Media Use for Children Under 15 | WPN World People News

In a comprehensive effort to protect children's online safety and address the growing problem of digital addiction, the French Parliament officially passed a landmark bill on the 21st (local time). Under the new law, children and adolescents under the age of 15 will be strictly prohibited from accessing major social media platforms, including TikTok and Instagram.

In response to the increasingly negative impact of social media on young people's mental health, President Emmanuel Macron's government has demonstrated strong determination by pledging to implement the ban at the start of the new school year in September. The goal is to ensure that these protective measures are seamlessly integrated into both schools and families. The legislation is widely regarded as a cornerstone of Macron's digital reform agenda and one of the key achievements of his presidency.

Macron emphasized, "France is leading Europe in protecting children and adolescents from the harmful effects of the online world. The bill will now be submitted to the Constitutional Council for final review. After that, we will move as quickly as possible to put these measures into effect, ensuring that our vision for safeguarding children's online safety becomes a reality in everyday life."

However, passing the legislation is only the first step. The real challenge will be enforcing it effectively. Under the bill, social media platforms will be required to take meaningful responsibility by implementing strict and reliable age-verification systems. Platforms that fail to prevent users under the age of 15 from registering or accessing their services could face substantial financial penalties.