After condemnations in California of platforms that contribute to addiction among minors, France is also trying to change its approach to regulating social media for younger people. The Senate approved a revised version of the bill on this issue, choosing no longer to aim for a blanket ban for those under 15, but to intervene directly in the characteristics of platforms considered harmful. The vote was clear: 88.5 percent of senators rejected the idea of a total ban. Instead, a more targeted model takes shape, preventing minors from accessing platforms that use specific “toxic design” features, such as aggressive recommendation systems or mechanisms designed to increase dwell time.
The turning point: accountability to platforms
The shift is not just technical, but political. The bill shifts the center of gravity of responsibility: no longer families and kids, but primarily businesses. As Jean Cattan of the Future of Tech Institute points out, “Today’s vote shows that France could lead not just Europe, but the world in addressing Big Tech’s irresponsible social media business model.”
According to Cattan, the point is not to prohibit access, but to eliminate the dynamics that make social media harmful, starting with the addictive mechanisms. This approach is part of a broader context. In the United States, as we have seen, some recent court decisions are already putting pressure on digital giants on the issue of social product design.
It’s not “social’s fault,” but the way it’s designed
For many experts, the most relevant news is just that: recognizing that the problems are not inherent in social media, but arise from specific choices.
Robin Berjon, computer scientist and author, sums it up this way, “Targeting toxic functionality is smart.” How platforms work, he explains, is not inevitable but the result of business decisions. And therefore modifiable.
The issue, however, does not stop there. According to Berjon, Europe should seize the opportunity to build its own digital model, based on shared infrastructure and an ecosystem of smaller, more secure services. Not only regulation, then, but also an industrial alternative.
The limits of bans: circumventable and ineffective
The debate remains open even among those who look favorably on increased regulation. The critical point is simple: bans alone work little. Nacho Guadix of UNICEF Spain makes it clear: “Purely restrictive measures tend to displace the problem without eliminating the risks.” Minors can easily circumvent restrictions, using fake accounts or other people’s devices. That’s why, Guadix insists, clear obligations are needed for platforms: truly effective age verification, data protection and, above all, safer design.
A precedent for Europe
The French Senate vote does not close the legislative path: the text will now go to a joint committee between the Senate and National Assembly to arrive at a final version. But the political signal is already clear. France is bidding to lead the way in Europe, at a time when other countries, such as Germany and Spain, are also considering similar measures.
The central point is bound to remain: it is not enough to set a minimum age. Action must be taken on the very operation of the platforms.
