French President Emmanuel Macron is aggressively pushing for a ban on social networks for children under 15, not just in his country but across the European Union.
Macron said on Monday that his government has returned to the country's top court with a freshly-worded proposal to get its approval. The Constitutional Council, which is the highest constitutional authority in France, had struck down legislation passed by the Parliament in July, calling it an infringement upon freedom of expression.
“Following the decision handed down by the Constitutional Council in mid-August on the ban of social networks for those under 15, I had tasked the Prime Minister with finding a path forward that complies with the Council's observations and European law. That has now been achieved,” Emmanuel Macron posted on X.
Depuis le premier jour, j’ai pris un engagement : protéger nos enfants en ligne.
— Emmanuel Macron (@EmmanuelMacron) September 14, 2026
Nous irons au bout.
À la suite de la décision rendue par le Conseil constitutionnel à la mi-août sur l’interdiction des réseaux sociaux aux moins de 15 ans, j’avais chargé le Premier ministre…
“After rigorous technical work, the Government is today notifying the Commission of new wording, one month after the Council's decision.”
Simultaneously, Macron is trying to champion the cause across the majority of Europe, as he reiterated his appeal to the President of the EU, Ursula von der Leyen, in his latest post. “This protection must also become the standard for all European children,” Macron posted.
“That is why I have shared with the President of the European Commission my determination that Europe move forward quickly and rigorously, to harmonise this ban at the Union level and regulate the features of platforms.
“Thanks to the determination of the President of the Commission, parliamentarians, and the support of many European states that share this exigency with us, I am pleased that the protection of minors online is now a priority for our Europe, at the heart of this back-to-school agenda. France will provide its full support, with rigour and determination. Don't let up.”
What is Macron's play?
Macron has made it his stated mission to implement the ban and make France the first European nation to achieve it.
He seems determined to make it happen while he is still in charge, and the urgency stems from the fact that there is less than a year left in his presidency. Macron has been president for two consecutive terms, and the nation's laws prohibit him from running again immediately. France will elect its next president in April-May next year.
Macron stressed the matter at the AI Summit held in Delhi earlier this year. He vowed to protect children from 'digital abuse', saying "there is no reason our children should be exposed online to what is legally forbidden in the real world".
“Our platforms, governments and regulators should be working together to make the internet and social media a safe space. This is why, in France, we are embarking on a process to ban social networks for children under 15 years old," Macron said at the Summit.
Where does the rest of the world stand?
Australia is the only country to enforce a nationwide social-media age restriction, which has been in force since December 2025.
Several European nations are at various stages of legislation, but no one has taken it as far as France has. Denmark is developing legislation, with a parental exception being considered, while Spain has proposed restrictions on under-16s. Greece and Norway are also working on restricting the use of social media for under-15s, while in Austria there's a political agreement in place but a ban has yet to be enforced.
Meanwhile, in June, the United Kingdom proposed a ban on social media for children under the age of 16, and is expected to debate the matter in Parliament to have a ban in place by 2027.
(This is compiled by Arun George)
