France first EU country to ban social media for under 15s 'to protect children'

France first EU country to ban social media for under 15s 'to protect children' French president Emmanuel Macron wants the ban to be introduced ahead of the new school year as both parliament chambers voted in favour of it French children under 15 will be banned from using social media as France becomes the first country in the European Union to impose the rule. Both chambers in the French parliament voted in favour of the measure today (Tuesday). President Emmanuel Macron wants the ban to be introduced ahead of the new school year. The decision on the blanket ban comes amid worldwide growing concerns over the harmful effects of digital content on children. The measure is a flagship initiative of Macron's second term. Under the same rules, children will also be banned from using their mobile phones in high schools, reports The Express. Children's advocates and parents applauded the vote. "We’ve been campaigning for this bill from the start because, frankly, we have no other option, no other way to counter tech giants," said Gaëlle Berbonde, a 52-year-old who lives in the Paris region. "The only thing we can do is protect our children, just as we protect our children from drinking alcohol," she added. "France is leading the way in Europe when it comes to protecting our children and teenagers," Macron said in a video posted on social media, hailing "a major step forward". He thanked members of parliament for backing the legislation on Tuesday. "The Constitutional Council must now rule on it, and then it will be time to take action to make this measure a reality and protect our children online," he added on X. Under 16s in the UK will be banned from accessing social media platforms in the UK, with the new law expected to come into force by spring next year. The landmark government decision was announced in June and aims to "set a new normal for future generations, kickstarting a cultural shift and driving forward the government’s fight to give every child the best start in life". The ban will target social media channels like Snapchat, TikTok, YouTube, Instagram, Facebook and X. Messaging platforms like WhatsApp will not be affected.