French President Emmanuel Macron has announced an emergency legislative push to ban children under the age of 15 from accessing social media platforms. The move is part of a growing global movement to shield young users from the psychological impacts of digital algorithms.
In a video statement released on Saturday, Macron confirmed he has instructed the French government to launch an "accelerated procedure" to ensure the law is passed as quickly as possible. Under this fast-track method, the bill will be debated only once in each house of Parliament, bypassing the traditional secondary rounds of discussion.
Protecting the "Next Generation" The President emphasized that the legislation is a fulfillment of a campaign promise and is aimed for implementation by the start of the next school year in September.
"The message is very clear: our children's and teenagers' brains are not for sale," Macron stated. "Their emotions are not for sale, and they must not be manipulated—whether by American platforms or Chinese algorithms."
The proposed law does not stop at social media; it also includes a comprehensive ban on mobile phone use in middle and high schools across France. Debates on the text are scheduled to begin in the National Assembly as early as Monday.
A Global Trend France’s move follows a landmark decision by Australia in 2024 to ban social media for those under 16, and a similar move by the UK’s House of Lords last week. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has also signaled that a broader, EU-wide crackdown on digital access for minors is on the horizon.
With the legislative process now in high gear, France is positioning itself at the forefront of
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