French parliament approves social media ban for children under 15

On Tuesday, both houses of the French parliament approved a bill banning children under the age of 15 from accessing social media platforms. The legislation, supported by President Emmanuel Macron, mandates that platforms implement age verification systems approved by the French privacy regulator. Children under 15 will be prohibited from creating new accounts starting September 1, and platforms will have four months to close existing accounts held by minors. While social media companies generally oppose blanket bans, citing existing safety measures, they have pledged to comply with the new law. France is the first European nation to enact such a digital majority, following similar legislation in Australia. The European Commission is currently evaluating the bill to ensure compliance with broader European Union regulations. Additionally, reports suggest the law may include restrictions on smartphone usage in high schools. The measure is intended to address growing concerns regarding the impact of social media on the health and safety of minors.