French Lawmakers Reach Compromise on Social Media Ban for Under-15s
A reconciliation committee in France's Parliament agreed Monday on a bill barring under-15s from social media, clearing the way for a final vote and a September rollout.
France is closing in on a law that would keep children under 15 off social media.
A reconciliation committee of the French Parliament agreed on the bill Monday, according to ABC News, sending an amended version to both the National Assembly and Senate for a final vote Tuesday.
The lawmakers were racing against the clock, with Parliament’s summer recess approaching and the European Commission having flagged that an earlier version of the bill wasn’t fully compatible with EU law.
President Emmanuel Macron wants the ban enforced by the start of the new school year in September.
What the Compromise Bill Would Do
Under the agreement, France’s Information Technology minister will draw up a list of social networks banned for children under 15, according to Reuters. Covered platforms must install age-verification systems approved by the French privacy regulator.
The bill also bans the use of smartphones in high schools. The AP reports the biggest sticking point was the scope of the social media ban: the National Assembly pushed for all online social networking services, while the Senate favored a narrower list of specific platforms.
Negotiators ultimately backed the broader approach passed by the National Assembly, leaving European Union authorities responsible for ensuring platforms comply with the age restriction.
The AP notes the ban exempts online encyclopedias, educational and scientific directories, and platforms used to develop and share open-source software.
A Race Against the Legislative Calendar
Echoing the broader global efforts to regulate children’s access to social media, lawmakers moved quickly to reach Monday’s agreement.
The AP reports a joint committee of seven National Assembly members and seven senators met to finalize the bill before Parliament’s summer recess.
The urgency grew after the European Commission found an earlier draft wasn’t fully compatible with EU law, forcing lawmakers to revise the language.
With a compromise reached, the amended bill heads to both chambers for a vote Tuesday, according to the AP.
Even if approved, the law cannot take effect before August 10 because of a mandatory EU notification period. Macron still wants the ban in place before students return to school in September.
Part of a Broader Push, Backed by Data on Screen Time
France isn’t acting in isolation. Reuters reports the country is following Australia’s lead, which enacted the world’s first under-16 social media ban last year, and comes as the UK plans to introduce its own under-16 ban next year.
Macron has also lobbied for similar rules across the European Union, with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen voicing support for limiting children’s access across the 27-country bloc.
Domestically, the AP points to data showing half of French teenagers spend up to five hours daily on smartphones. The ban could ultimately stand as one of the final major measures adopted under Macron’s leadership before he leaves office next year.
Source: French lawmakers race to introduce an under-15 social media ban
