Macron urges teenagers to put down their phones and read more. What a ban is also being prepared in France
French President Emmanuel Macron on Thursday urged teenagers to turn off their phones and read more, insisting on a “screen-free day” a month for everyone and a general ban on social media for those under 15, Reuters and Agerpres reports.
Following Australia's ban on children's use of social media last year, a growing number of European nations are considering their own restrictions as concerns grow about the impact of social media on the health and safety of minors.
“I left you in this jungle and stole your attention,” Macron told the high school students, talking about the lack of social media rules. “We have to slow down and help you become adults and, above all, citizens. That's why what we want to do is to say that, before the age of 15, done with social networks. And we would like, once a month, to have an offline day… to show that it is possible”, said the French president, adding that this day could be used to read, do theater or other activities.
In France, a draft law is being debated in parliament with the aim of establishing a ban for children under 15. But while the lower house voted for a blanket ban, senators want to block access only for platforms deemed harmful to children. This means that Macron's goal of having the new legislation in force by the start of the new academic year in September may not be met, Reuters notes.
So far, at least 12 European countries, including non-EU nations such as the UK and Norway, have adopted or are considering legislation setting minimum age limits – usually between 13 and 16 – for social media use. And the EU is preparing an age verification application.
Cyprus is the latest country to announce plans for a ban, with President Nikos Christodoulides saying on Thursday that his country will set the minimum age for creating and using an account on social platforms to be 15.
Later in the day, Macron will hold a video call with other EU leaders to promote a coordinated approach. The conference focuses on creating a “digital majority” in Europe by limiting access to children under a certain age and requiring age verification, officials said.
How teenagers responded to Macron
In Villers-Cotterets, in northern France, where Macron presented some of his plans, high school students had mixed reactions to the possibility of the ban. “I think it's more the parents' responsibility to check on their children,” said 12-year-old Erdem Duran. Even 15-year-old Fabien Andronic did not agree to a ban. “I like social networks, we learn a lot there,” he said.
But Manel “Zerouali”, also 15 years old, agreed to a ban for those under 15, so that they could be protected. “There is cyberbullying on social networks,” she emphasized.
One thing they all agreed on was that most young people would find a way around a ban. For example, Australia has seen a huge increase in virtual private network (VPN) downloads since it introduced a ban on the use of social networks, as users try to circumvent the measure to access restricted platforms.
A possible ban is also being discussed in Great Britain
Meanwhile, in Britain, Prime Minister Keir Starmer on Thursday told social media companies to take responsibility for the safety of children on their platforms and respond to parents' demands for credible protection, rather than introducing “shallow changes”.
At the start of a meeting with executives from Meta, Snap, Google, TikTok and X, the British prime minister said he wanted to hear what action the platforms would take because “right now, social networks are putting our children at risk.”
Britain is holding consultations until next month on restricting children's access to social media, including a possible ban on under-16s, as well as restrictions on siege mode, time limits on apps and restrictions on what it described as addictive design features, according to Reuters.
