Digital transition minister Jean-Noel Barrot told lawmakers that this “landmark” legislation would be “applied as soon as possible”. However, the precise date for the age verification bill to take effect remains to be determined, following its Senate endorsement last week. No explicit date has been given, and the European Commission has yet to confirm that it is in line with EU law.

Once the legislation is enacted, platforms will have a year to comply for new subscribers and a further two years to apply the mandates to existing users.

Lawmakers’ worries include issues ranging from cyberstalking and pornography to unattainable beauty standards and the addictive nature of the platforms.

Despite the current regulations mainly addressing personal data collection, they have proven ineffective in limiting children’s access to social media. Although sites are theoretically off-limits to those under the age of 13 in France, the French National Commission for Technology and Freedoms (CNIL) states that users as young as eight are registering. Over half of children aged 10-14 use social media platforms like Snapchat and Instagram.

The new law will explicitly require sites to seek the approval of a user’s parent or guardian if they are under 15, using technical solutions that adhere to the guidelines set by the French Arcom regulator.

Social media companies that violate the law will be subject to a fine of up to one percent of their global revenues.

Moreover, the legislation will permit parents to request the suspension of their under-15 children’s accounts and will require sites to provide tools to restrict the amount of time children spend on the platform.

Laurent Marcangeli, who spearheaded the legislation, acknowledged on Wednesday that the law would not entirely alleviate concerns regarding children’s online safety. He stressed the necessity for “advancements in age verification technology online and heavily investing into digital education for parents, children and teachers.”