Emmanuel Macron leads France in becoming the first European Union country to ban social media for children under the age of 15.

Emmanuel Macron has championed a landmark law that will ban children under the age of 15 from creating new social media accounts starting this September. The legislation, which was overwhelmingly approved by the French parliament, aims to protect young users from the harmful effects of digital content, such as reduced self-esteem and increased exposure to risky behaviors like self-harm. While existing accounts will remain accessible until January 2027, the law requires platforms to implement robust age-verification checks. The administration announced that the ban will exclude educational platforms and online encyclopedias. It also prohibits the use of mobile phones in high schools and requires advertisements to carry a warning for children under 15. While some critics worry about the difficulty of enforcement and potential privacy risks, the move aligns with a broader European push for digital sovereignty. France follows Australia as the second country in the world to implement a nationwide ban, providing a test case for other nations considering similar restrictions.

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