Her name comes at a time when there’s growing concern amongst European politicians about social media platforms, their addictive options and their position in teenagers’ psychological well being crises. It may flip up within the subsequent part of the EU’s regulatory crackdown on tech firms.
“We want that one thing very related might be put in place, enforced in Europe,” Genetet mentioned, referring to Australia’s instance. She added that the matter was an “emergency.” “We completely urgently want one thing to be put in place.”
France has tried its luck earlier than however was rebuffed by then-Inner Market Commissioner Thierry Breton, who argued the French guidelines ran counter to the bloc’s content-moderation rulebook, the Digital Providers Act (DSA), and the interior market.
However now the political tide might need turned: France shouldn’t be the one nation that has urged elevating the minimal age to make use of social media platforms.
Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen additionally referred to as for a 15-and-over age minimal on social media. European Fee President Ursula von der Leyen has floated an EU-wide inquiry on the results of social media on younger individuals’s psychological well being.
Genetet clarified that Paris wished a Europe-wide technical answer, beneath the DSA, that would complement the French legislation.
Paris’ push for a social media age minimal is embedded in a broader technique round children and display screen time.
Genetet famous 4 vital ages for teenagers in the case of display screen publicity. Earlier than the age of three, youngsters shouldn’t be uncovered to screens, whereas between the ages of three and 6, they should not view screens with out parental oversight. They need to not use cell phones earlier than the age of 11, nor use social media platforms earlier than the age of 15.
