Key facts
- French President Emmanuel Macron has urged the European Commission to implement an EU-wide ban on social media for children under 15.
- Macron communicated this in a letter to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.
- The proposal aims to harmonize restrictions across the 27-member bloc.
- France's own national bill for such a ban was recently struck down by its Constitutional Council.
- Von der Leyen had previously suggested a tiered system for limiting children's social media access.
French President Emmanuel Macron has formally requested the European Commission to consider a European Union-wide ban on social media access for children under the age of 15. The plea, detailed in a letter to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen dated August 29, comes after France's own national legislation aimed at restricting children's social media use was invalidated by the Constitutional Council.
Macron emphasized the urgency of establishing a harmonized, bloc-wide ban through new EU legislation to ensure consistent protection for all children across the Union. He noted that while several European countries are exploring curbs on social media for young people due to mental health and safety concerns, some nations prefer parental discretion. Macron is prioritizing this initiative in his final years as French president, seeking support from other EU governments.
Previously, in July, Von der Leyen had indicated that the European Union intended to limit young children's access to social media, referencing expert proposals for a tiered system. This system suggested limited, supervised access for children under 13, with gradual easing of restrictions as they age. Macron's current push advocates for a more stringent, blanket prohibition until the age of 15, ahead of Von der Leyen's upcoming State of the Union address.