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Ban on social networks for children under 15: Emmanuel Macron calls for a European text
France🏛️ PoliticsCenter9/8/2026

Ban on social networks for children under 15: Emmanuel Macron calls for a European text

French President Emmanuel Macron has called on European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen to draft a unified European text to ban access to social networks for users under 15 years old, aiming to protect children across the EU. This follows the rejection by France’s Constitutional Council of a similar law passed by parliament, which deemed it disproportionately restricted freedom of expression. Macron seeks to implement such restrictions in France before he leaves office in spring 2022, while pushing for a stricter European-wide approach. He emphasizes the need for age verification mechanisms compliant with privacy rules and for setting clear limits on addictive features. Von der Leyen had previously proposed a gradual approach with varying age thresholds, but Macron is advocating for a more stringent, harmonized European standard.

Emmanuel Macron has written to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen requesting a new European text to ban access to social media platforms for users under the age of 15, aiming to protect children across the Union. The letter, dated August 29, was shared with AFP on Monday, September 7. In it, Macron emphasized the urgency of the issue, stating that “it becomes imperative today to go further and harmonize through a new European text” an outright ban on social media for minors under 15 years old. This move follows the rejection of a similar French law by the Constitutional Council in August, which deemed the proposed measure an “unproportionate infringement” on freedom of expression and communication for teenagers. However, the council acknowledged the constitutional requirement to protect the best interests of children. Macron’s letter outlines his intention to find a path forward this autumn through a revised national legislative text that would comply with both EU law and the French Constitution. He expressed hope that such measures could be implemented in France before he leaves the Elysée Palace in spring 2027. Macron has made this issue a central part of his final term, having previously pushed for stricter regulations on digital platforms. He argues that age verification should rely on robust and privacy-respecting solutions at both national and European levels. Additionally, he calls for the new European legislation to address addictive features of social media platforms and introduce default safety standards, including time limits for usage. In July, von der Leyen had promised to present proposals after the summer, suggesting a gradual approach to access based on age groups. She indicated she might follow the recommendations of an expert committee, which suggested a complete ban for users under 13 and less restrictive rules for those aged 13 to 18. Ahead of her potential announcement, Macron is exerting pressure for a more stringent, unified European policy, specifically, a ban on social media access for anyone under 15, mirroring the model he aims to implement in France. The French government had initially introduced a law that would have gradually restricted access to platforms like TikTok and Instagram for minors. It would have prevented the creation of new accounts for users under 15 starting September 1, and existing accounts would have been subject to the restriction beginning January 1, 2027. However, the Constitutional Council struck down the law, citing concerns over free speech and insufficient safeguards for privacy. In response, the Élysée Palace instructed Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu to prepare a new, legally sound draft of the legislation that respects both the Constitutional Council’s decision and the broader European regulatory framework. Officials confirmed that Macron remains committed to implementing the reform, despite the setback. Other European countries are also considering similar measures. Australia became the first country to fully ban social media use for individuals under 16 in December 2025. Other nations, including Austria, Spain, Italy, and Slovenia, have announced plans to impose similar restrictions. These developments reflect a growing concern among policymakers about the impact of social media on youth well-being.

How this report was made. Objective News wrote this report from 5 source articles, using AI-assisted synthesis under our methodology. It is our own text, not a copy of any single outlet. Read our methodology.

Responsible editor: Matej BašaSpotted an error? Report it

5 reports

France 24 (Français) logoFrance 24 (Français)State / PublicCenterFactual 97Objective 949/7/2026
Ban on social networks for children under 15: Emmanuel Macron calls for a European text

French President Emmanuel Macron has called on European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen to draft a unified European text to ban access to social networks for users under 15 years old, aiming to protect children across the EU. This follows the rejection by France’s Constitutional Council of a similar law passed by parliament, which deemed it disproportionately restricted freedom of expression. Macron seeks to implement such restrictions in France before he leaves office in spring 2022, while pushing for a stricter European-wide approach. He emphasizes the need for age verification mechanisms compliant with privacy rules and for setting clear limits on addictive features. Von der Leyen had previously proposed a gradual approach with varying age thresholds, but Macron is advocating for a more stringent, harmonized European standard.

Bias read (Center): The article presents Macron's push for a European-wide regulation without overtly endorsing or criticizing his stance. It reports both his initiative and the previous positions of the European Commission, maintaining balance between the two perspectives. The framing remains neutral, focusing on the議

Why factuality (97): The article accurately conveys Macron’s request for a European text to ban access to social media for those under 15, referencing the letter from 29 August and the French law being struck down by the Constitutional Council. It aligns closely with the cross-source consensus and provides sufficient de

Why objectivity (94): The article maintains a neutral tone throughout, presenting facts without editorializing or expressing opinion. It focuses on reporting what Macron has stated rather than evaluating the policy itself.

BFM TV logoBFM TVIndependentCenterFactual 96Objective 859/7/2026
Failing to impose it in France, Emmanuel Macron calls for "a European text" to ban social networks for those under 15

French President Emmanuel Macron has announced his intention to push for a European-wide ban on social media access for children under 15, after a proposed French law was struck down by the Constitutional Council. He has requested the European Commission, led by President Ursula von der Leyen, to draft a unified European text to implement this measure, arguing it is essential to protect children across the Union. Macron emphasizes the urgency of the issue, noting that while France aims to introduce such restrictions, achieving consensus within the EU remains challenging due to differing opinions on age thresholds and implementation methods. The proposal would require both national and European-level measures to ensure privacy protections and address addictive features of platforms.

Bias read (Center): The article presents Macron's initiative as a pressing concern but does not overtly frame it as a partisan issue. It reports on his request for a European solution without clearly aligning with either left or right-wing perspectives. While the issue is politically sensitive, the tone remains neutral

Why factuality (96): The article accurately reports Macron’s request for a European text to restrict social media access for under-15s, mentioning the letter from 29 August and the rejection of a French law by the Constitutional Council. It aligns with the cross-source consensus and provides relevant background.

Why objectivity (85): The article contains some biased phrasing, such as 'projet ayant été retoqué par le Conseil constitutionnel' and 'ne fait pas encore l’unanimité,' which subtly frames the issue as controversial or needing further discussion. This reduces the overall neutrality of the piece.

20 Minutes logo20 MinutesIndependentCenterFactual 95Objective 889/7/2026
Social networks: Macron asks EU leader for a European ban on children under 15

French President Emmanuel Macron has requested European Union President Ursula von der Leyen to draft a European-wide law prohibiting access to social media platforms for individuals under the age of 15, aiming to protect children across the EU. This request comes after a similar French proposal was recently struck down by the Constitutional Council. Macron emphasizes the urgency of the issue and seeks to align national efforts with a unified European approach, including measures such as age verification, restrictions on addictive features, and default safety settings. While Von der Leyen had previously suggested a more gradual approach based on age groups, Macron advocates for stricter, harmonized rules at the European level. The goal is to implement these protections before Macron leaves office in spring 2027.

Bias read (Center): The article presents Macron’s request to the EU as a policy proposal aimed at protecting minors online. It includes direct quotes from Macron and mentions the EU’s potential response but does not exhibit overtly biased language, one-sided sourcing, or omission of opposing viewpoints. The framing is

Why factuality (95): This article provides more detailed information than the others, including the date of the letter (29 August) and the fact that a French law was struck down by the Constitutional Council. These details are consistent with the cross-source consensus but not present in the Le Monde article. The conten

Why objectivity (88): While mostly factual, the article includes some framing such as 'initiative d’ampleur pour protéger la jeunesse sur Internet,' which slightly emphasizes the positive intent behind the proposal. This introduces a mild tone of support for Macron’s position, reducing neutrality.

Libération logoLibérationIndependentCenterFactual: no official source document/info detectedObjective 969/7/2026
Ban on social networks for at least 15 years: Emmanuel Macron asks Ursula von der Leyen for a "new European text"

French President Emmanuel Macron has called on European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen to draft new European legislation banning social media access for individuals under the age of 15. This request was made in a letter sent by Macron in late August, according to reports published on September 7.

Bias read (Center): The article presents a straightforward statement of Macron’s request for EU-level legislation without evident framing or slant. It does not include commentary, opinion, or biased language, and simply relays the reported action without emphasizing any particular perspective.

Why factuality: no official source document/info detected

Why objectivity (96): The article remains highly objective, simply stating the facts without any evaluative language or framing that suggests approval or criticism of Macron’s proposal.

Le Monde logoLe MondeIndependent🔒CenterFactual: no official source document/info detectedObjective 959/8/2026
Emmanuel Macron asks Ursula von der Leyen for a European ban on social networks for those under the age of 15

French President Emmanuel Macron has asked European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen to consider a ban on social media platforms for users under the age of 15. Von der Leyen has indicated she plans to propose measures involving gradual access based on age groups, which she intends to address during her speech on the state of the EU on September 16th.

Bias read (Center): The article presents Macron’s request and von der Leyen’s planned approach without overtly favoring either side. It focuses on the proposal itself rather than taking a clear ideological stance. The framing remains neutral, focusing on the policy discussion rather than promoting a specific political,

Why factuality: no official source document/info detected

Why objectivity (95): The article presents the information neutrally, using straightforward language without overt bias or emotional framing. It avoids taking a stance on the policy itself, focusing only on what Macron has requested.

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