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French President Emmanuel Macron has called for European Union-wide legislation to ban social media access for children under 15, framing the measure as an urgent step to protect minors across the bloc. In a letter dated Aug. 29 to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, Macron argued that a new EU legal text was needed to harmonize the ban following the failure of France’s domestic law, according to Reuters. The communication comes as von der Leyen prepares to outline the commission’s approach to shielding children from addictive platform designs and harmful content in her annual State of the Union address. Macron’s push reflects broader concerns about mental health impacts on young users that have prompted similar actions in other countries.
The proposal seeks a blanket prohibition on social media for those under 15, differing from an expert panel recommendation for limits starting at age 13 with supervised access for older minors. Macron told von der Leyen it had become essential to advance beyond national measures after France’s Constitutional Council invalidated the prior legislation on freedom of expression grounds in August. Under the envisioned EU rules, platforms would need to implement age verification while providing exceptions for educational tools such as online encyclopedias. The French leader positioned the initiative as a way to set consistent standards before the end of his term.[[1]](https://www.reuters.com/legal/litigation/macron-urges-eu-ban-social-media-under-15s-letter-von-der-leyen-2026-09-08/)
France’s earlier national law, approved by parliament in July, would have barred under-15s from creating new accounts starting in September and required closure of existing ones by January 2027 while also prohibiting mobile phones in high schools. Both the Senate and National Assembly adopted the text by wide margins, with President Macron hailing it as a flagship achievement, according to multiple reports including from the BBC and AP News. However the Constitutional Council struck down the social media provisions, leaving only the school phone ban intact for implementation this month. Government officials have indicated a revised national draft could emerge by next spring if the EU path stalls.[[2]](https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cq56l9p4y93o)
The French initiative aligns with a global trend toward age restrictions, as Australia implemented a ban for under-16s in December 2025 that has faced enforcement challenges with many minors still accessing platforms. In June the United Arab Emirates announced its own prohibition on social media accounts for children under 15, requiring special protections for 15- to 16-year-olds including parental controls and content filters, a move reported by The Peninsula Qatar. These precedents have informed EU discussions, where officials weigh legal viability against risks of circumvention through virtual private networks or false age declarations. Von der Leyen has signaled that the commission will not accept addictive designs that draw children into extreme material.[[3]](https://thepeninsulaqatar.com/article/10/09/2026/eu-to-unveil-child-social-media-delay-plans-wednesday)
France’s audiovisual regulator Arcom has reported that children aged 12 to 17 spend an average of one hour and 21 minutes daily on TikTok alone, underscoring the scale of exposure that has fueled the policy push. Concerns cited by lawmakers and experts include online bullying, predator risks, coerced content and documented links to mental health declines, points echoed in parliamentary debates and family lawsuits against platforms. A 2024 Harris Interactive survey found 73 percent of the French public supported an under-15 ban, providing political backing for Macron’s stance. The EU approach could extend similar safeguards to the bloc’s 27 member states if adopted.[[4]](https://www.cnn.com/2026/07/21/world/france-becomes-the-first-eu-country-to-ban-social-media-for-children)
European Commission officials have remained circumspect on final details ahead of von der Leyen’s Wednesday address, with sources indicating a possible compromise allowing parental consent for 13- to 15-year-olds. The commission is expected to publish a formal legislative proposal after the speech, though timing remains unclear following legal warnings about compatibility with EU treaties. Digital Minister Anne Le Hénanff previously defended rapid implementation by noting that age-verification technologies already exist and can be approved by privacy regulators. Macron posted on social media after earlier parliamentary votes that the measure represented a major step forward in child protection.
