President Emmanuel Macron of France has expressed strong support for restricting children’s access to social media, joining other world leaders seeking to combat online abuse. He backs draft legislation that would ban social media for children under 15 and extend the existing ban on mobile phones from primary and middle schools to high schools.
Following similar measures in Australia (under-16 social media ban) and plans announced by Malaysia, other European countries, including Spain, Romania, and Denmark, are considering comparable restrictions. In France, public support for the ban is high, with 79% of parents in favor, and a previous law passed in 2023 was never enacted due to conflicts with European legislation.
Macron has framed the policy as part of a broader effort to protect children from cyberbullying, pornography, and online predation, emphasizing that social media before ages 15–16 can negatively affect emotional, cognitive, and social development. The proposed law would also require parental consent for children aged 13–16 to join social media platforms, echoing age-restriction models used for alcohol consumption to help families set healthy boundaries.
Implementation relies on three pillars: clear age limits for access, parental consent mechanisms, and alignment with broader European standards. Coordinated public-private approaches, including legislative support and parental involvement, are seen as essential to protecting children in today’s digital environment.
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https://www.nytimes.com/2025/12/31/world/europe/macron-social-media-children-ban-france.html