Macron Advocates Swift Legislation to Restrict Social Media Access for Children Under 15

PARIS – In a decisive move, French President Emmanuel Macron has announced plans to expedite legislation that would prohibit children under 15 from using social media, aiming for the ban to be implemented by September, coinciding with the new school year.

Speaking in a video broadcast by French channel BFM-TV on Saturday night, Macron expressed his intention to push his government to fast-track the legislative process. The goal is to ensure the Senate can approve the law swiftly to meet the proposed deadline.

“Our children’s and teenagers’ minds are not commodities,” Macron stated emphatically. “Their emotions should not be bought or manipulated by American platforms or Chinese algorithms.”

This announcement follows closely on the heels of the United Kingdom’s consideration of a similar initiative to shield young teenagers from potentially harmful online content and limit excessive screen time.

Statistics from France’s health authority reveal that half of teenagers spend between two to five hours daily on smartphones. A December report indicated that 90% of children aged 12 to 17 access the internet daily via smartphones, with 58% engaging with social media.

The report also pointed out the negative impacts of social media use, such as diminished self-esteem and increased exposure to dangerous behaviors including self-harm, drug use, and suicide. In France, several families have taken legal action against TikTok, attributing teen suicides to harmful content found on the platform.

Macron’s office told The Associated Press that the video was addressed to lawmaker Laure Miller, who is sponsoring the bill that will be examined in a public session on Monday.

“We are banning social media for under-15s, and we are going to ban mobile phones in our high schools,” Macron said. “I believe this is a clear rule. Clear for our teenagers, clear for families, clear for teachers, and we are moving forward.”

In Australia, social media companies have revoked access to about 4.7 million accounts identified as belonging to children since the country banned use of the platforms by those under 16, officials said. The law provoked fraught debates in Australia about technology use, privacy, child safety and mental health and has prompted other countries to consider similar measures.