The French government has prepared a report according to which every second teenager spends from 2 to 5 hours a day in a smartphone, notes Euronews. In this regard, President Emmanuel Macron intends to accelerate the legislative process.
“This is a very clear message: the brains of our children and adolescents are not for sale,” insists the President. – Their emotions should not be sold by American platforms or Chinese algorithms”.
The announcement comes just days after the UK government said it was considering banning teenagers from social media as part of tougher legislation aimed at protecting children from harmful content and excessive screen time.
Citing data from a report by the National Agency for Food, Environment and Occupational Safety and Health, Euronews recalls the harmful effects of teenagers’ use of social media: lower self-esteem, as well as more frequent exposure to content associated with risky behaviors such as self-harm, drug use and suicide. Several French families have filed complaints against TikTok following teen suicides that they believe are linked to dangerous content.
“We are banning social media for children under 15 and we are going to ban cell phones in our high schools,” Emmanuel Macron said. – I think this is a clear rule. Clear for our teenagers, clear for families, clear for teachers, and we are moving forward.”
The text of the ban is due for a first reading by the French National Assembly on January 26.
Earlier in Australia, authorities said social media companies had suspended access to some 4.7 million accounts belonging to children after banning their use by under-16s on Dec. 10.
The law sparked heated debate about the use of technology, privacy, safety and mental health of children, and prompted other countries to consider similar measures.
