France on Tuesday approved a nationwide ban on social media use by children under the age of 15, becoming the first European Union country to adopt such a sweeping restriction as governments grapple with the impact of digital platforms on young users.The legislation, backed by both houses of Parliament, is one of the final flagship measures of President Emmanuel Macron’s second term. In addition to restricting access to social media for children under 15, the law also prohibits the use of mobile phones in high schools.Macron wants the ban to come into force at the start of the new school year in September, although it is expected to undergo a constitutional review before implementation. “France is leading the way in Europe in protecting our children and our teenagers. We will keep on going,” Macron said after the bill was passed.The law excludes online encyclopedias as well as educational and scientific directories.The move comes amid growing concern over the impact of social media on children’s mental health. Several French families have filed lawsuits against TikTok, alleging that harmful content contributed to teenage suicides. “We’ve been campaigning for this bill from the start because, frankly, we have no other option, no other way to counter tech giants. The only thing we can do is protect our children, just as we protect our children from drinking alcohol,” said Gaëlle Berbonde, whose daughter struggled with anorexia, depression and self-harm after using social media.However, critics questioned both the practicality and legality of the measure. Lawmakers from the left-wing France Unbowed party argued the law could be difficult to enforce and raised concerns over its constitutionality and implications for online anonymity.According to France’s health watchdog, nearly 90 per cent of children aged 12 to 17 use smartphones daily to access the internet, while 58 per cent use them for social media. The agency has linked excessive social media use to lower self-esteem and greater exposure to harmful content, including material related to self-harm, drug use and suicide.France joins a growing list of countries tightening rules on children’s access to social media. Australia has already approved a ban for users under 16, while Spain, Denmark, Greece and the UK are considering similar restrictions. The European Commission is also examining bloc-wide measures to strengthen online protections for children.
