Why in News?
French President Emmanuel Macron has urged the European Union to introduce a bloc-wide ban on social media access for children under 15.
Key Highlights
- Macron called for a common EU law covering all 27 member states, instead of different rules in individual countries.
- He highlighted concerns over addictive platform designs, weak age and safety checks, and children's exposure to harmful content, including pornography.
- France had earlier introduced legislation requiring parental consent for children under 15 to create social media accounts, but its implementation faced technical difficulties.
- Macron said France would also rework its national legislation while continuing to push for EU-wide action.
- The issue has become a priority for Macron ahead of the 2027 French presidential election.
- Some Scandinavian countries have opposed a blanket ban and prefer giving parents a greater role in deciding when children should use social media.
Global Context
- The debate follows Australia's social media restrictions for children under 16, which came into force in December 2025. The move has encouraged several countries to consider stronger rules for protecting children online.
- The European Parliament had also called in November 2025 for EU-wide minimum age limits for social media access. However, age restrictions currently remain largely under the authority of individual EU member states.
