Should children under 15 have a digital curfew on social media? Insights from a French commission's report

In a move that could reshape the way children interact with social media, a French parliamentary commission has recommended a ban on social media platforms for children under 15 years old and proposed a nightly "digital curfew" for young people aged 15 to 18. 

The urgent recommendation follows a six-month inquiry into the psychological effects of TikTok on minors, which revealed alarming findings about the app's impact on young users.

The commission's report highlights concerns that TikTok "knowingly exposes our children, our young people to toxic, dangerous and addictive content".

Their investigation was spurred by serious concerns from families who have seen their children harmed by the platform.

One mother recounted her daughter's tragic story, sharing: "The content she watched was deadly ... prioritising songs that advocate suicide as a liberation."

In another testimony, a mother, who lost her 14-year-old daughter, said: "At no point was she exposed to content that could have inspired her to live. She was deluged with videos that suggested death as a solution." 

Among the 43 recommendations of the French inquiry commission are:

• A ban on social media for children under 15.
• No social media use from 10pm to 8am for teenagers aged 15 -18.
• A ban on mobile phones in schools.
• Greatly increased responsibility for parents, suggesting that those who fail to protect their children from harmful content may face legal repercussions.

Laure Miller, who led the inquiry, explained the reasoning behind the proposed law for parental digital negligence: "If a six-year-old child spends seven hours a day in front of TikTok, we can ask ourselves the question: 'Are their safety and morality really protected by their parents?'" 

These recommendations follow similar moves in other parts of the world.

Australia is set to implement social media bans for children under 16 starting on December 10, while countries like Denmark and Spain are considering new regulations to limit children's access to social media platforms.

Despite these investigations, TikTok has defended its practices.

In a statement, a spokesperson said that they reject the commission's "misleading characterisation" of the platform, highlighting that they have a trust and safety programme with over 70 features designed to help keep teens safe.

However, these measures have not impressed the French cross-party commission, which described TikTok as a "production line of distress" for young people.

It argues TikTok has failed to take sufficient action to reduce teenagers from being exposed to "a spiral of harmful content".

In light of the inquiry's findings, the chairman, Authur Delaporte, has also referred serious allegations against TikTok to the Paris public prosecutor, who will decide on the appropriate next steps.

Delaporte has also been asked to look into the death of French influencer Jean Pormanove, which was streamed live last month on the platform Kick.

The discussion around the safety of children online continues to grow, with European leaders monitoring the situation closely.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced that a panel of experts will evaluate the best approaches to protect minors across Europe by the end of this year.

Parents and guardians are encouraged to protect their children online.

Here are a few tips:

• Family pairing: Connect your account to your child's to control features like messaging, content settings and screen time directly from your phone. 
• Restricted mode: Set a restriction for content that may not be appropriate for your child. 
• Schedule time away: Schedule specific times when your child cannot use the app, such as during school or at night. 
• Private account: Keep your child's account private by default and limit who can see or interact with their videos. 
• Report and block: Teach your child to report videos, comments and messages that make them uncomfortable and to block specific users. 
• Educate and inform: Talk to your child about digital citizenship, online footprints and the importance of privacy. 
• Create a safe space: Make sure your child knows they can come to you if they see anything upsetting or feel uncomfortable without fear of punishment. 
• Discuss risky content: Explain the dangers of viral challenges and sensitive content, similar to how you'd discuss real-world dangers. 
• Stay updated: Keep yourself informed about new safety features and trends on TikTok by checking their safety centre and following online safety experts.
• Explore the app: Consider downloading and using TikTok yourself to better understand its features and risks.