ITIF - The Information Technology and Innovation Foundation
07/22/2026 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 07/22/2026 12:32
France’s Fast-Track Social Media Ban Creates Risks for All Users, Says ITIF
WASHINGTON-Following the French Parliament's passage of a law to ban social media for those under 15, the Information Technology and Innovation Foundation (ITIF) issued the following statement from Senior Policy Manager Ash Johnson:
France's decision to ban social media for children under 15 risks cutting young people off from the educational, social, and expressive benefits of online platforms while creating significant privacy risks for users of all ages.Sweeping age bans will not address the underlying challenges children face online, and enforcing them requires age-assurance systems that could undermine online anonymity and privacy. The law's hasty implementation timeline leaves platforms with insufficient time to develop and test effective, privacy-preserving age-assurance systems, making those privacy risks even greater.Protecting children online is an important goal, but France's ban is a rushed, blunt approach. It gives platforms, parents, and young people little time to understand and adapt to the new rules. Lawmakers should instead pursue targeted solutions that address specific risks while preserving young people's ability to participate safely in the digital world.Contact: Nicole Hinojosa, [email protected]
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