France Moves to Ban Social Media for Children Under 15

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PARIS — France is preparing a renewed effort to curb excessive screen time among children, with a draft law proposing a ban on social media access for those under 15 by September next year, according to a text seen by Agence France-Presse. The initiative has the backing of President Emmanuel Macron, who earlier in December called on parliament to begin debating the proposal in January.

The move follows Australia’s recent decision to impose a social media ban on under-16s, a world first that has renewed international debate on digital regulation. The French draft law cites growing evidence that excessive screen use poses serious risks to adolescents, including exposure to inappropriate content, cyberbullying, and disrupted sleep patterns.

Macron has repeatedly described the digital protection of minors as a government priority. However, France has struggled with enforcement in the past. A ban on mobile phone use in preschools and middle schools introduced in 2018 remains unevenly applied, raising questions about compliance and enforcement of the proposed measures.

Previously, the UOJ reported that the Netherlands authorized the teaching of the Orthodox Faith in public schools. 

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