Recently, we mentioned how the UK could limit the social media screen time for teenagers. Now, France is planning to ban everyone under 15 years old from using social media. So, what should you know about it?
It's a global phenomenon
For your information, France is now reportedly set to block access to social media for teenagers under 15 in just a few months. The drastic action was taken after a 14-year-old stabbed a school staff member to death in France yesterday during a bag check process before entering the school grounds.
Interestingly, China has restricted access to the internet and video games for this group, and Australia has passed a bill to prevent individuals under the age of 16 from using social media.
President Emmanuel Macron was quoted as saying he had given the European Union (EU) two months to initiate a movement to ban social media at the European level; if not, France would do it.
Authorities have yet to release a statement on why students attacked staff and what the connection is with teenagers' use of social media. However, many believe that social media is now like cigarettes, vaping, lead in petrol and CFCs, which were once considered safe to use but are harmful.
Countries such as Australia and Indonesia have begun to take proactive steps by streamlining legal aspects to limit access to social media platforms to underage users, especially children. However, Malaysia does not yet have such a plan.
No actions from Malaysia yet
In Malaysia, Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil has stated the need for in-depth research into the psychological effects and differences in access to information between children and adolescents. At this point, the government has no intention of blocking access to social media for underage users.
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