France's parliament has passed a landmark bill barring children under the age of 15 from using social media platforms, making it the first country in the European Union to approve a blanket ban on social media, reports infohub.kz.
Lawmakers in both chambers of France's parliament voted on Tuesday in support of the legislation, which also bans students from using mobile phones in schools. President Emmanuel Macron called parliament's approval "a major step forward," adding that "France is leading the way in Europe when it comes to protecting our children and teenagers."
The ban will be rolled out in two stages: from September 1, children under 15 will be blocked from creating new accounts, and from January 2027, existing accounts will also be affected. Digital Minister Anne Le Henanff said that if someone is under 15, the account will be closed, and users' personal data will be protected.
The ban does not apply to online encyclopedias, educational or scientific websites. Lawmakers from the left-wing party France Unbowed opposed the bill, arguing that its constitutionality is unclear and that it would be impossible to enforce. However, children's advocates and parents largely supported the vote. Gaelle Berbonde, a 52-year-old from the Paris region, said: "The only thing we can do is protect our children, just as we protect our children from drinking alcohol."
The Constitutional Council is expected to review the law, which could delay its implementation. Macron aims for the ban to take effect by September, before the new school year.