The proposal aligns with existing French legislation and comes as concerns grow over the mental health impact of online platforms on young people, Polish state news agency has reported.
The French government hopes to leverage Poland’s upcoming presidency of the Council of the European Union, set to begin in January, to advance the initiative, according to a report by the Politico news service.
French Education Minister Anne Genetet, speaking after a meeting of EU education and youth ministers on Monday, stressed the urgency of the matter.
"We absolutely need to implement such a measure," she said, pointing to Australia's recent move to ban social media for those under 16.
France is advocating for a similar EU-wide regulation under the framework of the Digital Services Act (DSA), ensuring it aligns with the bloc’s internal market rules.
France's call comes amid increasing scrutiny of social media across Europe. Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen has also voiced support for setting 15 as the minimum age for social media use. Meanwhile, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has initiated an inquiry into the platforms’ effects on young people's mental health.
Australia recently enacted what is being described as the world's strictest social media law. Under the law, children under 16 are banned from using platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and X (formerly Twitter).
Companies face fines of up to USD 33 million for non-compliance. The law is set to take effect next year, with a one-year grace period for platforms to implement age-verification systems.
French efforts to regulate social media access for minors date back several years but have faced legal hurdles. A previous attempt was blocked by Thierry Breton, then the EU commissioner for the internal market, on the grounds that it conflicted with EU laws, including the DSA. France now seeks a harmonized approach across the EU.
As part of a broader strategy to address children's exposure to technology, Genetet outlined a phased approach: no screen exposure before age three, supervised use between three and six, no mobile phones before 11, and no social media until 16.
Critics of age restrictions argue that such measures could isolate marginalized groups, including LGBTQIA youth and immigrant teens, who rely on online communities for support.
Australia’s Human Rights Commission has warned that the law could infringe on young people’s rights to social participation. Nonetheless, the proposal has garnered significant public backing; 77 percent of Australians support the ban, according to the Reuters news agency.
Public health authorities in many countries, including the US Surgeon General, have been vociferous in criticizing social media's negative influence on teen mental and physical wellbeing for over a decade.
France’s push for EU-wide regulation highlights growing concerns among European leaders about the social and psychological effects of digital platforms on younger generations.
Whether Poland, as an upcoming EU Council chair, will take up the cause remains to be seen.
(rt/gs)
Source: PAP