French President Emmanuel Macron has called on the European Commission to introduce an EU-wide ban on social media access for children under 15, after France failed to bring its own legislation into force.
In a letter to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen dated August 29, Macron said a common European law was urgently needed to protect children across the 27-member bloc.
“I believe it has now become essential to go further,” Macron wrote, calling for legislation that would harmonise a ban on social media access for under-15s across the European Union.
France had planned to introduce its own restrictions, but the country’s Constitutional Council rejected the legislation earlier this summer before it was due to take effect in September. Macron said France would revise the proposal and seek to introduce new national legislation, although political divisions in parliament and difficult budget negotiations could make the process challenging.
The French president has made restrictions on children’s social media use a major priority during his final year in office. He has also been seeking support from other European governments ahead of the French presidential election in 2027.
The push follows Australia’s decision last year to adopt a landmark law restricting social media access for children. Several European countries have since considered similar measures amid growing concerns about the impact of social media on children’s mental health, online safety and exposure to harmful content.
Not all European governments support a common ban. Some countries, particularly in Scandinavia, have argued that decisions over children’s social media use should remain primarily with parents.
Ireland is also examining the issue. Taoiseach Micheál Martin said earlier this year that the Irish Government was considering a similar restriction but indicated that he would prefer a measure agreed and implemented at EU level.
Von der Leyen said in July that the European Union would consider measures to limit young children’s access to social media. Her comments followed recommendations from two experts who proposed a tiered system based on age.
Under that approach, children younger than 13 could have limited and supervised access, with restrictions gradually easing as they grow older. Macron is seeking a stricter policy, with social media access prohibited until the age of 15.
The debate is expected to gain greater attention as von der Leyen prepares to deliver her annual State of the Union address to the European Parliament later this month. The European Commission will face pressure to decide whether the bloc should adopt a single age limit or allow individual countries to set their own rules.
