Macron Proposes EU-Wide Social Media Ban Under 15
Macron Proposes EU-Wide Social Media Ban Under 15
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Key Points
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Macron said the revised wording was submitted to the European Commission one month after the Constitutional Council’s decision, following what he described as “rigorous technical work.”
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The notification to the European Commission is a procedural step intended to ensure that the reworked French legislation complies with European Union law.
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Macron reportedly plans to prepare a revised French domestic bill in fall 2026 and aims to have it operational before his presidential term ends in spring 2027, even as he seeks a bloc-wide solution through Brussels.
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The original measure had made France the first European country to attempt to prohibit social-media access for under-15s, following parliamentary approval in July amid concerns about harmful effects on children’s mental health.
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Macron said he had asked Prime Minister to find a legally compliant path forward and pledged, “From the very first day, I made a commitment: to protect our children online. We will see it through to the end.”
French President Emmanuel Macron submitted a revised proposal to the European Commission for banning social media access by children under 15, following a court rejection of the original measure. French Government The move comes after France's Constitutional Council struck down the earlier law in August, citing concerns about privacy and freedom of expression. Macron is now pushing the EU to adopt a bloc-wide ban and wants France's revised domestic bill operational before his presidential term ends in spring 2027.
The original law would have made France the first European country to prohibit social media for under-15s. Reuters Macron said he made a commitment from his first day to "protect our children online" and vowed to "see it through to the end," tasking his Prime Minister with finding a legally compliant path forward.Reuters
Constitutional Council Blocked the Original Ban
France's Constitutional Council rejected the ban in August, finding it disproportionate and poorly designed. French Constitutional Council The main issue: enforcement would require age verification of all users, raising serious concerns about privacy and freedom of expression for everyone online.
After the court's decision, Macron tasked his government with "rigorous technical work" to rework the proposal one month later. French Government The revised draft aims to address the constitutional concerns while still protecting minors from social media's harmful effects on mental health.French Government
Macron Wants a Bloc-Wide EU Solution
Macron is not just fixing France's law — he's pushing the entire European Union to adopt the ban. European Commission By submitting the revised draft to Brussels, France opened a procedural window to ensure the new legislation complies with EU law and can serve as a model for other member states.European Commission
The EU Commission has already signaled its own push for stricter digital platform regulations. Tribune India President Ursula von der Leyen announced plans for the EU KIDS Act, which would introduce age-based restrictions and stronger safeguards for children using social media across all member states.Tribune India
France's Timeline: A Revised Bill by Spring 2027
Macron plans to prepare a revised French domestic bill in fall 2026, aiming to have it operational before his presidential term ends in spring 2027. French Government This aggressive timeline means the government has roughly five months to navigate legal reviews, parliamentary debate, and implementation while pursuing EU-wide coordination.French Government
The broader EU effort moves in parallel. European Commission If Brussels adopts its own child protection framework, France's revised ban could align with bloc-wide standards — strengthening Macron's position and creating unified rules across all 27 EU nations.European Commission
Why Social Media Under 15 Matters Now
Child mental health advocates say social media poses real risks: addiction, harmful content, and algorithmic manipulation that targets young users. Hamro Patro The EU's push for strict regulations reflects growing concern across Europe that platforms have failed to police themselves and protect minors.Hamro Patro
France's original attempt — passed by parliament in July — aimed to address these harms before testing in court. Reuters Now, with constitutional safeguards in mind, Macron is trying a second approach that respects privacy and freedom while still keeping under-15s off social platforms.Reuters
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