The French government has submitted a revised proposal to ban social media for children, after its previous bill was struck down by the country’s highest constitutional authority, President Emmanuel Macron said.

In mid-August, France’s Constitutional Council struck down the previous legislation, finding that part of it constituted an unnecessary restriction on the freedom of expression of those affected.

“After rigorous technical work, the government today is notifying” the European Commission of the new draft, Macron wrote on X.

The notification is a key step, as it ensures that the legislation is in line with European Union law, AFP reported.

Macron has made banning the use of social media by children and teenagers one of his top priorities and hopes the ban will come into force by the end of his term next year. He has called for similar legislation to be adopted across the EU.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen is expected to speak about a possible EU-wide ban on social media for children in a speech in Brussels this week.

An increasing number of countries are taking measures to restrict access to social media amid growing warnings about its harmful effects on children. | BGNES