French President Emmanuel Macron said he wants the French government to fast-track a legal ban on social media for children under 15 so it can enter into force in September at the start of the next school year.
Macron said he had asked the government to initiate an accelerated procedure so the proposed legislation could move quickly and be passed by the Senate in time, speaking in a video released late Saturday by French broadcaster BFM-TV.
“The brains of our children and our teenagers are not for sale,” Macron said. He added that “The emotions of our children and our teenagers are not for sale or to be manipulated. Neither by American platforms, nor by Chinese algorithms.”
The announcement came days after the British government said it will consider banning young teenagers from social media as it tightens laws intended to protect children from harmful content and excessive screen time.
France’s health watchdog has reported that one in two teenagers spends between two and five hours a day on a smartphone. In a report published in December, it said some 90% of children aged between 12 and 17 use smartphones daily to access the internet, and that 58% of them use their devices for social networks.
The watchdog highlighted harmful effects it linked to social network use, including reduced self-esteem and increased exposure to content associated with risky behaviors such as self-harm, drug use and suicide. It also said several families in France have sued TikTok over teen suicides they say are linked to harmful content.
Macron’s office told The Associated Press that the video was addressed to lawmaker Laure Miller, who is sponsoring the bill that is to be examined in a public session on Monday.
Macron also said his administration would pair the social media ban with restrictions in schools, telling lawmakers: “We are banning social media for under-15s.” He said: “We are going to ban mobile phones in our high schools,” and added, “I believe this is a clear rule.”
He continued: “Clear for our teenagers, clear for families, clear for teachers, and we are moving forward.”
The AP noted that Australia has already moved toward restrictions, with officials saying social media companies revoked access to about 4.7 million accounts identified as belonging to children after the country banned platform use by those under 16. The law, the AP said, has fueled disputes in Australia over technology use, privacy, child safety and mental health, and has prompted other countries to consider similar measures.