French children under 15 should be banned from social media and there should be an overnight digital curfew for 15-18 year olds, according to a parliamentary commission's recent report.
The six-month inquiry into the psychological effects of TikTok on minors found that the platform knowingly exposes our children and young people to toxic, dangerous and addictive content.
Lead author Laure Miller emphasized the urgency of addressing the issue, stating that TikTok must be compelled to rethink its model. The inquiry was prompted by testimonies from teenagers and families affected by severe consequences of social media usage.
In response, TikTok has rejected these claims, asserting that the commission's characterization of the platform is misleading and places undue blame on them for broader societal challenges.
The commission's recommendation follows similar actions globally, with Australia set to enforce a social media ban for those under 16 starting in December. The inquiry in France revealed alarming accounts, including mothers recounting the tragic stories of children driven by social media to contemplate suicide.
- A ban on social media for under-15s
- Denying access to these apps overnight from 22:00-08:00
- A ban on mobile phones in schools
- Proposals for a crime of digital negligence for parents failing to protect their children
Efforts to regulate social media use among children are gaining traction across Europe, with several countries considering similar measures. Ukrainian legislation is also in the pipeline, aiming to grant guardians authorization for minors' access to social media platforms.
Beyond legislative changes, inquiries into the responsibility of platforms like TikTok are underway. In France, the inquiry's chairman has referred allegations against TikTok regarding user endangerment to the Paris public prosecutor.
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