Emmanuel Macron urges EU to ban social media for under-15s after school stabbing in eastern France; here's what we know
French President Emmanuel Macron has announced plans to press the European Union for a regulation that would ban social media access for children under 15 years old. His push follows a deadly incident at a middle school in eastern France, where a 14-year-old student allegedly stabbed a 31-year-old school aide during a bag search for weapons.
Speaking to France 2 on Tuesday, Macron said he expects progress within months. 'If that does not work, we will start to do it in France. We cannot wait,' he said, stressing the urgency of the situation following the latest attack at a school in Nogent, Haute-Marne.
Violence in schools prompts political urgency
The fatal stabbing has reignited debate about youth violence and school safety in France. Prime Minister Francois Bayrou addressed the matter in parliament, describing the attack as part of a wider pattern of similar incidents.
Police have questioned a 14-year-old in connection with the stabbing, which occurred during a routine bag search. Macron has linked rising aggression among teenagers to social media influence. He pointed to platforms' ability to verify user ages but noted that enforcement remains weak.
Macron urges tech platforms to verify age of users
Macron continued his stance on social media accountability via a post on X (formerly Twitter), where he wrote: 'Platforms have the ability to verify age. Do it.' He cited expert support for age-based restrictions and emphasized that the responsibility lies with major tech platforms to implement and enforce these controls.
Although many platforms officially restrict users under 13, enforcement is minimal and bypassing age checks is reportedly easy. Macron's remarks aim to put pressure on both European regulators and tech companies.
Australia's precedent adds global momentum
Macron's comments come as global interest in regulating youth access to social media intensifies. Australia passed a law last year banning access to social media for children under 16. The decision followed public debate and set a precedent as one of the strictest regulatory frameworks against Big Tech's influence on children.
France may follow suit if EU-wide action is not forthcoming, Macron warned. The growing consensus among global leaders suggests a shift towards tighter controls on digital access for minors in response to rising safety concerns.
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