HIBAPRESS – Follow-up
French President Emmanuel Macron announced his government's intention to accelerate the enactment of a new law that prohibits the use of social media by children under the age of 15, a move that sparked a wide debate within political and educational circles in France and abroad.
Macron explained that this decision comes within the framework of protecting the mental health of children and adolescents, in light of the increasing warnings about the negative effects of excessive use of social media, such as anxiety, depression, cyberbullying, and a decline in academic concentration. In the same context, the French President revealed parallel measures aimed at tightening restrictions on the use of mobile phones within educational institutions, especially in secondary schools, in order to reduce disruption within classrooms and improve the quality of learning and educational interaction between students and teachers. According to the data circulated, the draft law stipulates that social media platforms must strictly verify the ages of users, prevent the opening of accounts or access to these platforms for those under 15, and impose penalties on those who do not comply with these procedures. This French approach comes in an increasing European and international context, where several countries have begun to review their digital policies related to children, amid calls to reorganize the digital space and protect vulnerable groups from its risks. Although the project is still under discussion within the French parliament and has not yet entered into force, Macron's government seeks to pass it as soon as possible, to begin its implementation with the upcoming school seasons. Observers believe that this step may constitute a legislative precedent that pushes other countries, including European and Arab countries, to consider similar measures to regulate the use of technology within the school environment and protect young people from digital slips.
