Our Children’s Brains Are Not for Sale: Macron's Urgent Call for Social Media Restrictions

French President Emmanuel Macron announced that his government will expedite legislation to prohibit children under 15 from using social media, aiming to implement the law before the next school year starts in September. "The minds of our children and teenagers are not for sale," Macron stated in a video released late Saturday. "Their feelings should not be sold or manipulated, whether by American companies or Chinese algorithms." Macron mentioned that the government intends to restrict social media access for those under 15 and also ban mobile phone usage in high schools, calling this a clear and necessary rule for teens, families, and educators. This announcement comes as various Western nations advocate for stricter online safety regulations to shield minors from the potential dangers of social media. In December, Australia enacted significant legislation prohibiting under-16s from having accounts on platforms like Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook. The UK has also indicated it is contemplating similar actions, including a potential ban on social media for those under 16. In France, the proposed ban is being pushed by lawmakers who contend that current protections are inadequate due to ineffective age-verification systems. One lawmaker involved in the initiative stated that users can currently input any birth date to access social media. "What we aim to enforce on platforms, by strictly applying the European Digital Services Act, is genuine age verification when accessing a social network," she explained. "This changes everything, as users will need to prove if they are over or under 15." She recognized that some users might still find ways to circumvent restrictions but emphasized that the priority is to take strong measures to safeguard minors online. After Australia’s ban, officials reported that over 4.7 social media accounts believed to belong to under-16s had been deactivated or removed. Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese stated that the decision was influenced by increasing evidence of social damage and demands from both parents and youth. After Australia's ban, officials reported that over 4.7 social media accounts thought to belong to users under 16 had been deactivated or taken down. Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese stated that the decision was influenced by increasing evidence of social damage and demands from both parents and youth.