France Urges Social Media Ban for Minors Under 15 Amid Mental Health Concerns

A French parliamentary committee has recommended banning children under 15 from using social media, citing concerns about the platforms’ impact on young people’s mental health.

The committee also suggested implementing a “digital curfew” for teenagers aged 15 to 18, restricting their access to social media between 10 pm and 8 am.

The recommendation follows months of testimony from families, social media executives, and influencers. The committee concluded that social media platforms, particularly TikTok, have addictive designs and algorithms that prioritize engagement over user safety. Despite TikTok’s claims of prioritizing user safety, the committee found its efforts insufficient, with harmful content easily accessible and proliferating on the platform.

TikTok’s Europe, Middle East, and Africa chief, Marlene Masure, is set to face a criminal complaint for allegedly lying under oath about the platform’s potential harms. Committee chief Arthur Delaporte expressed frustration with TikTok’s lack of transparency, stating that the platform is aware of its algorithmic issues but fails to address them adequately.

The committee heard heartbreaking testimony from Geraldine, a mother who lost her 18-year-old daughter to suicide. Geraldine claimed her daughter was exposed to self-harm content on TikTok, which she believes contributed to her daughter’s struggles.

While TikTok representatives pointed to their AI-enhanced moderation efforts, which caught 98% of content infringing on their terms of service in France, the committee deemed these efforts inadequate.

If implemented, the ban could be extended to all users under 18 within three years if social media platforms fail to comply with European laws. The committee’s report emphasizes the need for stricter regulations to protect minors from online harm. France is not alone in this effort, as other countries, including Australia, are also exploring similar measures to safeguard young users.

The French government’s response to the committee’s recommendations remains to be seen, but President Emmanuel Macron has already expressed support for banning social media for children under 15.