France is on course to follow Australia in banning social media to younger teenagers as debate on new law opens in National Assembly.
The law would block reach for under 15 year old to networks like TikTok, Instagram and Snapchat.
President Emmanuel Macron has said he desire the ban in place by start of school year in September.
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The French move is part of global trend towards restricting social media for kids triggered by growing evidence of damage they can cause to mental situation.
“We can not leave the mental health of our kids in hands of people whose sole aim is to make money out of them. Macron said past month.
Under the new text the state media regulator would draw up list of social networks that are looked harmful.
These would be simply banned for under 15 years olds.
A separate list of supposedly less harmful sites would be reachable but only with parental approval.
The bill is believed to have good chance of passing with pro Macron parties like to be joined by the centre right Republican as well as famous Right Wing National Rally RN.
Other clause would ban the use of mobile telecom in senior school.
The ban is in effect in junior and middle schools.
IF law is passed France will need to agree on mechanism for for age verification.
A system is in place that requires over ill year old to prove their age when accessing online phonography
In Europe Denmark, Greece, Spain and Ireland are considering following Australian example.
The UK government launched a consultation on banning social media for under 16.
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The basis of proposed French law is text drawn up late last year by deputy Laure Miller who chaired a parliamentary committee enquiry into psychological effects of TikTok.
The president has been sidelined from domestic politics since the Assembly elections which he called in 2024 resulted in hung parliament and social media ban has been rare opportunity to court public favour.
The bill has to redrafted to take account of queries raised by Council of State the body which previews draft legislation to ensure it conform with French and European law.
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A 2023 law which proposed a similar ban on social media for young teenagers proved inoperable after courts decided it broke Europe law.
For a time the cause risked falling victim to bickering between Macron and his one pm Gabriel Attal.
The government appears to have rallied behind Miller bill.
If the text is approved Monday it will pass before upper house the Senate. in next month.
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