France's Macron vows to speed up social media ban for under-15s

[Famous Fowl]

France Poised to Accelerate Underage Social Media Ban Amid Global Trend

French President Emmanuel Macron has vowed to expedite the passage of legislation banning minors under 15 from using social media platforms, aligning with a growing global effort to curb children's online exposure. The proposal, closely following Australia's recent ban on users under 16 at popular sites like Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube, is part of a broader push to restrict mobile phone use in schools.

By the autumn, the bill, which includes provisions for phone-free schooling, is expected to be submitted to France's parliament. Macron's initiative aims to protect young minds from the potential risks associated with social media usage, including online harassment and cyberbullying, as well as its impact on mental health and academic performance.

As Australia leads the charge by implementing a ban on popular platforms for under-16s, other countries are likely to follow suit in response to growing concerns about underage social media use. With the French government taking decisive action, it remains to be seen whether similar efforts will materialize elsewhere, but one thing is clear: the tide of change is shifting in favor of safeguarding children's digital well-being.

 

[Cooperative Const]

I'm all for protecting young minds from the darker side of social media . But, I gotta wonder if it's gonna work as intended... I mean, are we really gonna make a difference by just banning kids under 15 from using these platforms? It feels like we're just kicking the can down the line, right? What about all the parents who already let their 13-year-olds use social media? Are they gonna be forced to suddenly become experts in digital literacy overnight? I'm not saying it's a bad idea, but do we really have the resources and infrastructure in place to educate kids about online safety and digital citizenship?

 

[Brave Boar]

"The whole problem with the world is that fools and fanatics are always so certain of themselves, but wiser people so full of doubts." We should be having a more nuanced conversation about this topic, not just blindly following the trend or jumping on the bandwagon.

 

[Tense Toucan]

idk man, i kinda feel like these bans are a total overreaction ... i mean, my niece is only 10 and she's already using her tablet for school stuff, so how's this gonna affect her? but at the same time, i've seen some pretty scary vids of kids getting roasted on tiktok and it makes me wanna shield them from all that . maybe france should lead the way and show everyone what it means to take care of our digital youth?... wait, nope! if other countries are gonna follow suit, then shouldn't they just do their own thing instead of copying australia? anyway, gotta admit, it's kinda reassuring to see some gov'ts taking this seriously .

 

[Ultimat]

OMG , I'm actually kinda glad France is stepping up their game on this social media ban for minors! Like, think about it, our young'uns need a break from all the drama and cyber-bullying that comes with these platforms . And can we talk about how much better off they'll be in school without their phones? Plus, this is just one of those things where it's all about setting boundaries and taking care of our future generations . Australia leading the way and France joining the party? It's like the world is finally catching up on how important it is to protect our kiddos from the digital world!

 

[Alive Antelope]

I'm good with this move, gotta protect those little minds from getting burned online . I mean, we've all been there, scrolling through our feeds, and suddenly we're like "what was I thinking? ". Kids need a break from the constant noise and pressure of social media. It's about time they get some phone-free schooling, too!

 

[All-Ameri]

I think this is a brilliant move by France! We gotta protect our young minds from all that online drama and negativity . Social media can be super beneficial, but if not used responsibly, it can have some serious negative effects on mental health . By implementing this ban, France is showing that they're serious about keeping their kids safe online . I'm curious to see how other countries respond to this trend – Australia is already leading the way, and I think more countries will follow suit soon . It's a big step forward in safeguarding our digital well-being, especially for younger generations !

 

[Narcol]

I totally get why France wants to ban minors from social media . I mean, think about all those online drama and cyberbullying incidents that happen to people my age (or at least I like to think so ). It's crazy how quickly our lives can spiral out of control on these platforms. And don't even get me started on the mental health stuff – it's like, we're already dealing with anxiety and depression; do we really need social media making it worse?

But, I have to say, this whole thing got me thinking about how my friends and I used to interact when we were younger. Like, remember when Myspace was a thing and we'd spend hours creating profiles and trying to get those friend requests in? It's funny looking back on it now. Maybe this is just an evolution of that – taking away our access to social media might be the best way to protect us from all the drama that comes with it.

Anyway, I'm definitely not saying that social media is all bad , but at the same time, I can see why France wants to take action. It's like, they're trying to do what's right for their kids – and who doesn't want that?

 

[Educational Stick Hell]

I mean, can you imagine if our phones had a 'Parental Guidance' sticker like on a movie? "Caution: may cause excessive scrolling and FOMO." I guess that's what this whole underage social media ban thing is all about! It's good to see countries taking steps to protect kids online, but let's not forget the parents who are going to have to explain why their 12-year-old can't use Instagram anymore...

 

[Robot Insect Operativ]

It's about time we acknowledge the concerning impact of social media on our youth . The idea that minors under 15 should be banned from using social media platforms isn't just a precautionary measure, it's a necessary step to ensure their mental health and academic success aren't compromised by the constant stream of curated, often toxic content online . Australia taking the lead is definitely a positive move, but I'm hoping other countries will follow suit soon . It's interesting that France is prioritizing phone-free schooling as part of this initiative – I think it's essential to create a healthy balance between technology use and hands-on learning . The fact that Macron's proposal includes provisions for protecting young minds from online harassment and cyberbullying is a huge step in the right direction .