France could become the first country in the European Union to ban access to social media to under-15s. The bill put forward by MP Laure Miller, supported by the Government and adopted by the National Assembly, marks a major shift in political awareness.
This is a necessary first step towards fully protecting minors online.
The online child protection cannot be based on a symbolic measure if it does not tackle the root causes of the problem. A ban, without addressing the risks inherent in the platforms, is tantamount to shifting the risks rather than reducing them.
The ban must be accompanied by an age check.
The real impact of this measure will depend entirely on one central point: requiring platforms to provide effective, integrated, legally regulated age verification that respects personal data.
Otherwise, the ban will remain theoretical, easily circumvented and unenforceable.
But even this verification will not be enough if the design logic of the platforms remains unchanged.
The real problem is the way platforms manufacture risk.
The dangers to which minors are exposed are not due to their age, but to the way in which the platforms operate:
recommendation algorithms,
infinite scrolling,
intrusive notifications,
open messaging,
promotion of viral content.
These mechanisms are designed to capture attention, maximise time spent and expose users to ever more, including violent, hateful or sexualised content and unwanted interactions.
At 15, as at 13, these approaches produce the same effects.
European law exists. It must be applied.
The Digital Services Act requires platforms to protect minors by design
The Digital Services Act, Article 28 and its guidelines require platforms to protect minors. by the very design of their services These include protective default settings, limited recommendations and a reduction in high-risk functionalities.
The challenge is not to pile on yet another ban, but to ensure that the existing framework is respected.
Educating and supporting.
Finally, no response will be sustainable without an ambitious education and prevention policy. Understanding the mechanisms of platforms, learning to set limits, knowing how to ask for help: this is also a prerequisite for protection.
That's what the e-Enfance / 3018 Association has been doing for over 20 years.
