France redraws its under-15 social-media proposal around risky features
France has notified a revised draft law that would restrict under-15s from social networks with specified high-risk features. It provides exemptions for beneficial services and a route for parental authorisation for 13- and 14-year-olds. The text remains a draft, not law.
What it could improve
The revised approach targets particular service features associated with risks, rather than treating every online community as identical. It would exempt some educational, scientific and collaborative services and allow parents or guardians to authorise access for 13- and 14-year-olds. France says minimum-age rules and longer-term Safety by Design requirements can complement one another.
What remains unresolved
Whether this becomes proportionate, effective protection will depend on how risk categories, exemptions, age assurance and safeguards are implemented.
- A list of high-risk features must remain evidence-based and adaptable as services change, without sweeping beneficial participation into a ban.
- Children may shift to smaller or less-regulated services, shared accounts or signed-out experiences if safer alternatives are not available.
- Parental authorisation must not become the only defence against harmful design or exclude children without straightforward access to a guardian.
- Age checks need to minimise data collection and avoid requiring every platform to build a separate identity dossier.
- The revised proposal must be assessed against fundamental rights, proportionality and the EU’s emerging common framework.
The Child-Friendly Internet perspective
France’s focus on risky features is useful because it asks what makes a service harmful rather than assuming every digital space has the same effect. A Child-Friendly Internet would pair that analysis with age-appropriate design and privacy-preserving assurance that can support consistent responses across participating services.
- Separate a service’s harmful mechanics from children’s legitimate rights to learn, create, communicate and seek support.
- Use graduated safeguards and positive alternatives, not exclusion as the sole measure of success.
- Coordinate assurance standards so children are not repeatedly asked to reveal identity to each provider.
The central question
Can a risk-based restriction encourage genuinely safer digital spaces rather than simply moving children elsewhere?