France looks to close deal on landmark social media ban for children
With Parliament's summer recess approaching, seven members of the National Assembly and seven senators reached a compromise on Monday in a joint committee tasked with reconciling competing versions of the bill.
An agreement could clear the way for both chambers to hold a final vote as early as Tuesday afternoon, although the legislation cannot formally be adopted before 10 August because of a notification period required under EU law.
French President Emmanuel Macron has strongly backed the proposed ban, presenting it as a major public health measure aimed at protecting children from harmful and addictive online content.
The bill could become one of the last significant pieces of legislation adopted under his presidency before he leaves office in 2027.
EU warns France under-15 social media bill could breach European law
Disagreement over which platforms to ban
The principal dispute between the National Assembly and the Senate concerns which social media platforms should fall within the scope of the restrictions.
The National Assembly voted for a broad ban covering all online social networking services, while senators favoured a blacklist identifying specific platforms that children under 15 would be prohibited from accessing.
Certain services would be exempt under either approach, including online encyclopedias, educational and scientific directories and platforms used to develop and share open-source software.
The bill would also prohibit mobile phone use in French high schools, extending the restrictions already applied in many primary and middle schools.
Lawmakers initially sought to design the legislation so that it complied with the EU's Digital Services Act, which imposes obligations on technology companies to protect users and tackle illegal or harmful material online.
However, the European Commission concluded that parts of the French proposal overlapped with EU rules and asked the authorities in Paris to amend the draft.
The Senate has argued that the Commission did not object to the principle of creating a blacklist. It says the main legal concerns relate instead to provisions that would give excessive powers to Arcom, France's audiovisual and digital communications regulator.
“Everyone must rise to the importance of the issue at stake, which is nothing less than protecting the physical and mental health of our children,” the Senate said in a statement.
The legal objections have complicated France's attempts to introduce the measure quickly, but lawmakers remain hopeful that a compromise can be found in time for the new academic year.
Experts to deliver verdict on EU social media controls for children
Concerns over mental health and addictive design
The proposed ban comes amid mounting concern in France and elsewhere in Europe over the amount of time children spend online and the possible effects of social media on their health and development.
According to France's public health watchdog, half of all teenagers spend between two and five hours a day using a smartphone.
A report published in December found that around 90 percent of children aged between 12 and 17 used a smartphone to access the internet every day. Some 58 percent said they used their devices to visit social networking platforms.
The report identified several potential harms linked to social media use, including lower self-esteem and greater exposure to material involving self-harm, drug use and suicide.
Several families in France have taken legal action against TikTok following the suicides of teenagers, arguing that the platform exposed their children to harmful content.
Technology companies have generally said they have introduced safeguards for younger users, including parental controls, screen-time reminders and restrictions on certain content. Critics, however, argue that many platforms remain deliberately designed to keep users engaged for as long as possible.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen added her support earlier this month to calls for stricter limits on children's access to social media.
The Commission is expected to put forward its own proposals for consideration by the EU's 27 member states, potentially paving the way for a more coordinated European approach.
France is part of a wider international movement towards imposing tighter restrictions on children's social media use. Australia, the UK, Turkey and Indonesia are among the countries that have introduced or pursued measures limiting access for children under 15 or 16 to platforms such as TikTok, Instagram and YouTube.
Supporters of France's legislation say a national ban would provide parents and schools with clearer rules while placing greater responsibility on technology companies to verify users' ages.