Asger Risom
In the wake of a school attack, French President Emmanuel Macron says under-15s will be barred from social media unless the EU enforces stricter online safety rules.
French President Emmanuel Macron says France will not wait for the European Union to act on online safety. Speaking Tuesday night, he pledged to ban social media access for children under 15 “in the coming months” if the EU does not introduce firm regulation.
“We can’t wait,” Macron told France 2, referencing a fatal stabbing of a school staff member earlier that day as a trigger for urgent national action.
As reported by Digi24, Macron also announced plans to require age verification on websites selling knives, similar to recent measures applied to adult content platforms. “A 15-year-old will no longer be able to buy a knife online,” he said, promising financial sanctions for companies that fail to comply.
Age Limits and Pressure for EU Action
France, alongside Greece and Spain, is part of a growing bloc pushing for coordinated EU policy to limit screen time and improve safety for teens online.
Still, Macron signaled that if the EU delays, France will act unilaterally.
Later that evening, he reinforced the message on X: “I’m banning social media for children under 15. Platforms can verify age. Let’s do it.”
Authorities in France are already moving to categorize platforms like X, Reddit, Bluesky, and Mastodon alongside adult websites, which must enforce age checks under new national regulations.
Pushback and Workarounds
France’s aggressive digital policy has already had consequences. Pornhub withdrew from the French market following the country’s new rules, which took effect on June 7. In response, demand for VPN services spiked as users attempted to bypass the restrictions.
With online safety becoming a political flashpoint, Macron’s message is clear: if Brussels won’t lead, Paris will.