Macron Urges EU to Ban Social Media for Under-15s

French President Emmanuel Macron has urged the European Union to introduce legislation banning children under 15 from accessing social media platforms, stepping up his campaign for stronger protections for minors online.

In a letter to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen dated August 29, Macron called for a “European legislative text” that would harmonise age restrictions across the bloc and “protect all children in the Union”, according to a letter seen by Agence France-Presse.

The proposal comes weeks after France’s Constitutional Council rejected legislation seeking to impose a similar restriction nationally, forcing the French government to reconsider how such a ban could be implemented within constitutional and European Union rules.

Macron Seeks EU-Wide Rules

Macron argued that national measures alone may not be sufficient to address the risks children face on social media.

In his letter, he said it was “now essential to go further” and establish a common European framework. Such legislation would prevent individual EU countries from adopting significantly different age thresholds and could place uniform obligations on major social media platforms.

The French president has increasingly made children's online safety a political priority, particularly amid concerns about excessive social media use, harmful content and the influence of digital platforms on young people.

France’s Earlier Ban Rejected

France had already attempted to introduce a ban on social media access for children under 15.

However, the country’s Constitutional Council struck down the proposal in August. The ruling created a legal obstacle for Macron’s government, which had sought to make the restriction part of France’s domestic legislation.

Macron subsequently said he hoped to find a way forward through revised national legislation that would comply with both EU law and the French Constitution.

Push Comes After Legal Setback

Rather than abandoning the initiative following the constitutional ruling, Macron is now seeking a European solution.

A common EU law could potentially provide a broader legal framework while reducing concerns about differing national regulations.

The approach would also put the issue at the European level, where regulations governing digital services and online platforms can have an impact across the bloc.

For Macron, an EU-wide measure would offer a more consistent response to what he considers a cross-border problem.

Child Safety At Centre

The French president's proposal is based on concerns about the effect of social media on children.

Governments across Europe have been examining how platforms handle minors, including questions surrounding age verification, exposure to harmful material and the amount of time young people spend online.

Macron's proposed threshold would mean that children could not legally use covered social media services until reaching their 15th birthday.

The precise definition of “social media” and possible exemptions would be important if the EU were to develop legislation.

Platforms Could Face New Duties

An EU-wide age restriction would also raise questions about how platforms verify users’ ages.

Social media companies could be required to introduce stronger age-assurance systems to prevent children below the permitted age from creating or maintaining accounts.

However, such measures would need to balance child protection with privacy and data-protection concerns. Any system requiring users to provide additional personal information could raise questions about how that information is collected, stored and processed.

These issues are likely to become central to any future European legislative proposal.

Wider European Debate

Macron's appeal comes as governments around the world debate whether existing safeguards are adequate for children using social media.

The issue has become increasingly contentious as policymakers weigh the potential benefits of online communication against concerns about children's exposure to harmful or age-inappropriate content.

An EU-wide approach would also put pressure on technology companies to apply common standards across member states rather than adapting to a patchwork of national rules.

What Happens Next

Macron has asked von der Leyen and the European Commission to move towards new EU legislation, but his request does not automatically create a ban.

The Commission would have to assess the proposal, determine the appropriate legal mechanism and potentially work with EU member states and the European Parliament before any bloc-wide measure could take effect.

For France, the European route could provide a way to revive Macron's under-15 social-media restriction after the Constitutional Council's August decision.

The coming months will therefore determine whether France can turn its national proposal into a wider European initiative — and whether the EU is prepared to establish a single minimum age for social media use across the bloc.