French President Emmanuel Macron has announced plans to ban social media access for children under the age of 15, warning that France will act independently if the European Union fails to implement a continent-wide policy.
The move comes after the fatal stabbing of a school staff member by a 14-year-old in Nogent, an incident where social media is believed to have played a role. “We must ban social media for children under 15,” Macron said in a televised interview, giving the EU “a few months” to act before France implements the ban unilaterally.
Although France passed a law in 2023 requiring parental consent for under-15s to use social media, the law remains unimplemented due to concerns over compliance with EU rules. In 2024, Macron reiterated his commitment to the ban during the legislative election campaign, referencing expert advice and growing concerns about youth violence and digital exposure.
While countries like Denmark, Greece, and Spain have expressed interest in similar restrictions, the EU has stated it will not enforce a bloc-wide digital age limit. Instead, it prefers that safety measures be handled by social media platforms.
Macron suggested that France could enforce the ban through age verification technology, such as facial recognition or government-issued ID checks — methods already used for access to adult websites in France. He emphasized that tech companies have the capability to implement these controls effectively.
Meta, the parent company of Instagram, Facebook, and WhatsApp, has proposed linking age verification to app stores or device operating systems to help regulate access.