Khaberni - The French National Assembly voted in favor of banning social media use for children under the age of 15.
Deputies in Paris adopted the bill late on Monday evening. The legislation calls for a ban on minors under the age of 15 accessing social network services via online platforms.
The text still needs approval from the Senate, the upper chamber in the French Parliament.
The text approved by the National Assembly does not precisely specify which social media platforms will be covered by the ban, but it clarifies that "electronic encyclopedias" and "educational or scientific guides" will be exempt from it. Moreover, private messaging services will not be affected by the ban.
The original version of the bill was less strict, as it allowed minors to continue using some platforms with parental consent, but this clause was removed in the current version.
The legislation received essential support from deputies of President Emmanuel Macron's camp within the National Assembly.
Following the vote, Macron wrote on the platform "X": "This is what scientists recommend, and this is what the French overwhelmingly demand."
Macron said he wants the measure to take effect at the beginning of the next school year, adding: "As of September 1st, our children and youth will finally be protected. I will ensure that."
France had attempted several years ago to set a minimum age of 15 for teenagers to create their own social media accounts without parental consent, but the law was unenforceable due to European Union legislation. Whether the new rules are compatible with current EU law remains a question.
Last year, the European Parliament voted overwhelmingly in favor of calling for a uniform EU-wide minimum age for social media use, but the report adopted has no legally binding force.
