Macron pushes France to ban social media under 15

PARIS: (Web Desk) – Emmanuel Macron is pushing for France to become one of the first European Union countries to ban social media use for children under 15, following similar measures in Australia and Indonesia.

The proposed law, passed by the lower house National Assembly in January, would require platforms to block new accounts for under-15s and suspend existing accounts of children under that age. It also includes a ban on mobile phones in high schools. Authorities hope to enforce the legislation starting September.

However, the right-leaning Senate approved the bill with reservations, suggesting amendments and a two-tier system that would allow some platforms to be accessed with parental consent while excluding educational sites and online encyclopedias. A compromise will be needed before the law can take effect.

The move is partly driven by concerns about cyberbullying, with First Lady Brigitte Macron campaigning against online harassment for years. France’s public health watchdog cited platforms like TikTok, Snapchat, and Instagram as harmful to adolescents, particularly girls, though declining mental health has multiple causes. Macron has warned that children’s emotions should not be “for sale or manipulated by American platforms and Chinese algorithms.”

Indonesia enforces social media ban for children

Critics argue that banning children from social media is an overly simplistic approach. Nine child protection groups suggested holding platforms accountable instead, while lawmaker Arnaud Saint-Martin called the proposal “digital paternalism.”

Even if passed, enforcing the ban will be challenging. Age verification systems at the EU level are planned for early 2027, and under-15s may bypass restrictions using VPNs or new platforms.

Other countries are taking similar steps: Australia requires platforms to remove accounts for under-16s, Indonesia has enforced a ban for users under 16, and Austria, Spain, and Denmark have announced plans to restrict social media access for children.