Macron Urges EU to Ban Social Media for Users Under 15

French President Emmanuel Macron has written to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen requesting a European law to ban social media access for children under 15. In a letter dated August 29, Macron argued that such a ban is indispensable to protect children across the European Union and called for harmonized rules to address addictive features and introduce default safety standards, including time limits on usage.

This request comes as Macron seeks to implement a similar ban in France. A previous French legislative attempt was censored in August by the Constitutional Council, which ruled that the text disproportionately infringed upon the freedom of expression and communication of adolescents. Macron stated he intends to find a legislative path forward this autumn with a revised national text that respects both the Constitution and EU law.

While Macron pushes for a firm ban at age 15, other perspectives exist within the EU. Estonia has opposed a digital majority, with its Minister of Justice and Digital Affairs, Liisa-Ly Pakosta, arguing that platforms should change rather than restricting children's participation in the information society. Ursula von der Leyen previously indicated she was considering a progressive and graduated access model for different age groups, following expert recommendations for a ban under 13 and less strict limits for those aged 13 to 18. Von der Leyen is expected to address the issue during her State of the Union speech on September 16.