New French law to protect child social media stars

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The French parliament has approved new legislation regulating the activities of under-16s who earn income as so-called “influencers” on social media, limiting the number of hours they dedicate to the role, protecting their earnings and enshrining their right to eventually remove their presence from online platforms.

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France has introduced a new law to protect young social media stars, reports BBC News.

The legislation aims to regulate the hours under-16s can work online and what happens to their earnings.

It also enshrines the right to be forgotten, meaning that platforms will be obliged to take down content on the child's request.

The popularity of child influencers has grown rapidly in recent years, with a number of young names appearing on the list of YouTube's top earners.

The change will make France a pioneer in the rights of child social media stars, the MP behind the bill, Bruno Studer, was quoted as saying by Le Monde newspaper.

The new law, which was passed unanimously on Tuesday, does not affect all children who appear on social media, but instead targets those who spend significant amounts of time working online and whose work generates an income.

Read more of this report from BBC News.

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