PARIS (Kashmir English): French lawmakers Tuesday voted on a law that aims to ban social media for children under the age of 15.
By this move, France joined the nations around the world in considering a move unpopular with many teenagers but supported by majority parents and teachers.
Social media platforms
If the law is adopted, France would follow Australia, where the world’s first ban for under-16s on platforms including Facebook, Snapchat, TikTok and YouTube came into force in December.
Australia moved to ban social media access for children amid concerns grow over the impact social media has on the health and safety of minors.
President Emmanuel Macron had in April urged young people to switch off their phones and read in order to become better citizens.
He wants the law in place in time for the start of the next academic year.
France’s proposed legislation requires social media platforms to set up systems of age verification approved by the French privacy regulator.
If adopted, the law will require children younger than 15 are not allowed to open a social media account from September 1.
Social media platforms would have another four months to close accounts already open.
