France introduces one of the continent’s toughest digital safety measures aimed at protecting minors online
France has enacted a landmark law prohibiting children under the age of 15 from accessing social media platforms, becoming the first member of the European Union to introduce such a nationwide restriction.
The legislation is designed to strengthen online safety for children by reducing their exposure to harmful content, cyberbullying, addictive algorithms and online predators. The move follows growing concerns among parents, educators and mental health experts over the impact of excessive social media use on young users.
Under the new rules, social media companies will be required to implement robust age-verification systems to prevent children below the age threshold from creating or operating accounts. Platforms that fail to comply could face regulatory action and financial penalties.
French authorities say the law is intended to encourage healthier digital habits among children while giving parents greater control over their online activities. The government has argued that existing age restrictions on many platforms have not been effectively enforced.
The decision places France at the forefront of a global movement toward tighter regulation of technology companies. Several countries, including Australia and a number of US states, have explored similar measures as governments seek to balance children’s online safety with digital access.
The new law is expected to spark wider debate across Europe over the responsibilities of social media platforms and whether stricter age-verification rules should become the norm across the European Union.
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