France's Senate backs ban on social media platforms for under-15s

France's upper house of parliament, the Senate, voted on Tuesday evening in favour of banning numerous social media platforms for children and young people under 15.

Senators want all platforms whose content or algorithms could harm children's self-development to be off limits. A corresponding list is to be drawn up by the relevant ministry, according to the draft law adopted. Other social media platforms should be available to adolescents with their parents' permission.

The two chambers of parliament thus agree in principle on restricting social media for young people, but must now agree on a common line in order to pass the law definitively.

Could the regulation come later?

This could be difficult mainly because there are differing views on which regulation is legally compliant.

The National Assembly voted for a blanket ban on social media for children under 15. President Emmanuel Macron's government wants the regulation to take effect by the next school year. It is still unclear whether a solution will be found in time.

France had already attempted several years ago to introduce a minimum age of 15 for teenagers to create their own social-media accounts without parental consent. However, the law could not be enforced due to European Union legislation. Whether the new rules comply with current EU law remains to be seen.

France could become the first EU country with such a regulation.

Australia has already introduced a ban, with children and young people under 16 not allowed to have their own social media accounts on many major platforms since mid-December.

There is also a debate in Germany about whether access to social media should be restricted for children.