Ban social media for under-15s, says French report warning of TikTok risks
Original story by
BBC News•Sep 11•Government, Health, Technology
📰 Article Summary
A French parliamentary commission has recommended banning children under 15 from social media and implementing a digital curfew for teenagers aged 15 to 18 due to concerns about TikTok's psychological effects on minors. The inquiry found that TikTok exposes young people to harmful content, with testimonies highlighting severe issues such as suicidal ideation among users. Despite TikTok's counterclaims about safety measures, the commission criticized the platform for not doing enough to protect youth and referred allegations of endangerment to the public prosecutor. The recommendations align with broader trends in Europe, where several countries are considering similar restrictions on social media usage among minors.
📌 Key Facts
- Proposal for Social Media Ban: The French parliamentary commission has proposed banning children under the age of 15 from using social media in an effort to protect them from harmful content, particularly on TikTok.
- Digital Curfew for Teens: In addition to the ban on children, the commission suggests a digital curfew for teenagers aged 15-18, restricting their social media access overnight to mitigate psychological risks.
- Concerns About TikTok: The inquiry highlighted TikTok's role in exposing youth to dangerous and addictive content, with testimonies from families of minors who faced severe mental health issues attributed to the platform.
- TikTok's Response: TikTok rejected the commission's findings, asserting that it has implemented various features to ensure user safety, but the commission criticized these measures as insufficient.
- Broader European Movement: France's actions are part of a larger European initiative, with other countries like Denmark and Spain also considering restrictions to regulate minors' use of social media platforms.
📂 Article Classification
Topic Tags: Social Media Regulation
📍 Location
Paris, France
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