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France has approved a nationwide ban preventing children under the age of 15 from using social media platforms.
French lawmakers passed the bill on Tuesday by 279 votes to 81, despite opposition from some lawmakers who questioned whether the measure could be enforced.
“This law is not only hypocritical, it is dangerous. You know that these measures will be circumvented and that they are inapplicable,” Louis Boyard of the far-left France Unbowed party said.
He also criticised the move, saying it could lead to increased internet restrictions.
“It’s an excuse to impose the end of anonymity on the Internet, to impose more control by the European Union on the freedom that is the Internet,” Boyard added.
The law will prevent children under 15 from creating social media accounts from September, while platforms will be required to introduce age verification for new users.
Existing accounts belonging to under-15s will have to be closed within four months.
The bill also bans the use of mobile phones in French high schools.
Children’s rights groups and parents have welcomed the decision, although the law is expected to face legal challenges over whether it complies with the French Constitution.
The measure is one of the final major policies approved under President Emmanuel Macron before he leaves office next year.
The ban will not apply to online encyclopaedias, educational and scientific platforms, or websites used for developing and sharing open-source software.
France’s health watchdog said about half of teenagers spend between two and five hours daily on smartphones.
A report published in December found that about 90 percent of children aged 12 to 17 use smartphones every day to access the internet, with 58 percent using their devices for social media.
The report warned that excessive social media use could affect young people’s wellbeing, including lower self-esteem and increased exposure to harmful content linked to risky behaviours.
