French Parliamentary Committee Recommends Social Media Ban Under 15, Digital Curfew Teens

A French parliamentary committee has proposed banning children under 15 from using social media and implementing a nighttime 'digital curfew' for users aged 15 to 18, citing concerns over the harmful psychological effects of platforms like TikTok. The committee's inquiry, sparked by a 2024 lawsuit from families accusing TikTok of exposing minors to content promoting self-harm and suicide, found that TikTok's algorithm actively contributes to a harmful environment for young users. Committee chief Arthur Delaporte announced plans to file a criminal complaint against TikTok for endangering lives, accusing the company of complicity in exposing youth to dangerous content despite TikTok's assertions about user safety and AI-driven moderation. French President Emmanuel Macron has expressed support for these measures, aligning with similar actions recently taken by Australia and echoed by calls from Germany's data protection authorities. The committee's report warns that if social media companies fail to comply with European regulations within three years, the ban could be extended to all users under 18. TikTok, owned by China's ByteDance, rejects the accusations, maintaining that it prioritizes safety with numerous features to protect teens, but remains under intense scrutiny from Western governments over content and political influence concerns.