'Our children’s brains are not for sale': Macron backs social media ban for children, warns against US and China tech giants

French president Emmanuel Macron - File Photo

French President Macron warned tech giants after France’s lower house passed a bill banning under-15s from social media, framing it as child protection. The law, if approved, would impose strict limits and expand digital restrictions in schools from 2026.

Did our AI summary help?

French President Emmanuel Macron has delivered a blunt warning to global technology giants after France’s lower house approved legislation to bar children under 15 from using social media platforms. Framing the move as a matter of child protection rather than censorship, Macron said the digital economy must not be allowed to exploit young minds.

“Our children’s brains are not for sale,” Macron said in a video message released by the French Embassy in the United States, directly calling out American and Chinese tech companies. He warned that children’s emotions should not be “available for manipulation by American platforms or Chinese algorithms.”

The remarks came hours after France’s National Assembly passed the bill following an overnight debate. A total of 130 lawmakers voted in favour of the proposal, while 21 opposed it. The legislation now heads to the Senate, where it will face further scrutiny.

If approved, the law would place strict limits on minors’ access to social media and expand France’s digital restrictions in schools. In addition to banning under-15s from creating social media accounts, the bill also prohibits the use of mobile phones in high schools, reinforcing earlier restrictions already in place for younger students.

Macron welcomed the parliamentary vote, describing it as a necessary step to protect children and adolescents from the psychological and emotional risks associated with excessive screen time and algorithm-driven content. He argued that young users should not be shaped or exploited by platforms designed to maximise engagement rather than wellbeing.

Under the proposed framework, the restrictions would apply to new social media accounts starting from the 2026 school year in September. Existing accounts that fail to meet the age requirement would be shut down later in the year. The rules would not apply to educational platforms or online encyclopaedias, which have been explicitly excluded from the ban.

The European Commission has cautioned that enforcement will need to align with EU law, particularly on the use of reliable age-verification systems that respect privacy and data protection standards. Brussels has said it will assess how France implements the measures before offering final approval.

France would become the second country after Australia to impose sweeping national limits on children’s access to social media. The move adds fresh momentum to an intensifying global debate over the power of Big Tech and the responsibility of governments to protect minors online.

By targeting the influence of both US and China-based platforms, Macron has positioned France as a leading voice in Europe’s push to rein in digital giants and redefine the boundaries of the online world for children.