France Follows Australia’s Path: Child Social Media Ban Reaches New Heights

France is on the verge of joining Australia with its law banning social media for children. Reportedly, French parliamentarians have already passed the corresponding bill. It concerns a ban on the use of social networks by children under the age of 15. In Australia, remember, the ban applies up to 16 years old.

Created by Grok The National Assembly adopted the text of the bill with 130 votes to 21 against. Next, the bill will be sent to the Senate, after which it will come into force. President Emmanuel Macron previously supported this initiative. The authorities now want the ban to take effect by the start of the next academic year, that is, September 1. After that, the platforms themselves will have time until the end of the year to deactivate the corresponding accounts.

Comparative Insights Between France and Australia

The age restriction difference between France and Australia, set at 15 and 16 years respectively, reflects a growing international effort to shield children from the psychological impacts of social media. Experts argue that at this developmental stage, adolescents are particularly vulnerable to issues such as cyberbullying and identity manipulation, which can be exacerbated by platform algorithms.

Impact on Social Media Companies

The implications for social media companies are significant, as these regulations require changes in user verification processes and adjustments in algorithmic operations to comply with new age restrictions. The necessity to deactivate accounts poses both a technical challenge and potential revenue implications. As companies navigate this evolving landscape, experts emphasize the importance of balancing business objectives with social responsibilities.

“Social media platforms must pivot from merely profit-driven models to ones emphasizing user safety,” highlights Dr. Lucia Kim, a digital ethics researcher.

Although platforms such as YouTube differ fundamentally from others like X or TikTok, the exact classification of these as social networks in France remains unspecified. This grey area suggests ongoing debates about the nature and impact of varied digital media.