France has forwarded a revised draft bill to the European Commission seeking to ban children under the age of 15 from using social media platforms. The move is aimed at curbing online addiction among minors and protecting their mental health.
The government had attempted a similar restriction earlier this year. A bill passed in Parliament in January proposed blocking under-15s from using platforms such as Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat and Facebook.
However, France’s Constitutional Council struck down that law in August, saying it infringed on freedom of expression. President Emmanuel Macron’s administration has since reworked the proposal to address legal hurdles and align it with European Union rules.
In a post on X, Macron said the new draft was prepared after technical assessments and has now been formally sent to the European Commission for review. With his term set to end next year, he has signalled urgency in getting the restriction implemented in France.
Macron has also called for similar rules across the European Union. The debate over tighter controls for children is gaining traction in several countries, including Australia and parts of Europe, and France’s latest step has drawn international attention ahead of an expected address on the issue by EU leader Ursula von der Leyen this week.
