Macron says children's brains are 'not for sale,' urges fast-track to ban social media for kids under 15

France is moving toward banning societal media for children nether 15, with President Emmanuel Macron urging lawmakers to unreserved the authorities arsenic countries worldwide tighten controls connected kids’ surface time.

In a video released precocious Saturday by broadcaster BFM-TV, Macron said helium has directed his authorities to usage an accelerated legislative process truthful the measure tin wide Parliament and beryllium approved by the Senate by the commencement of the adjacent schoolhouse twelvemonth successful September.

"The brains of our children and our teenagers are not for sale," Macron said. "The emotions of our children and our teenagers are not for merchantability oregon to beryllium manipulated. Neither by American platforms, nor by Chinese algorithms."

Macron’s propulsion comes days aft the British authorities said it is considering akin restrictions arsenic it tightens rules to support children from harmful online contented and excessive surface time.

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French President Emmanuel Macron delivers a code arsenic helium visits the Istres subject aerial unit base, confederate France, Thursday, Jan. 15, 2026. (AP Photo/Philippe Magoni, Pool) (AP Photo/Philippe Magoni, Pool)

France’s wellness watchdog reports that 1 successful 2 teenagers spends betwixt 2 and 5 hours a time connected a smartphone. A December study recovered astir 90% of children ages 12 to 17 usage smartphones regular to entree the internet, with 58% utilizing them for societal media.

The bureau warned of links betwixt dense societal media usage and reduced self-esteem, arsenic good arsenic accrued vulnerability to contented tied to risky behaviors, including self-harm, cause usage and suicide.

France’s wellness watchdog warned of links betwixt dense societal media usage and reduced self-esteem, arsenic good arsenic accrued vulnerability to contented tied to risky behaviors, including self-harm, cause usage and suicide. (Nimito/Getty Images, File)

Several French families person sued TikTok, alleging the level exposed teens to harmful contented connected to suicides.

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Macron’s bureau told The Associated Press the video connection was addressed to lawmaker Laure Miller, who is sponsoring the measure acceptable for nationalist statement Monday.

A December study from France's wellness watchdog recovered astir 90% of children ages 12 to 17 usage smartphones regular to entree the internet, with 58% utilizing them for societal media. (iStock)

"We are banning societal media for under-15s, and we are going to prohibition mobile phones successful our precocious schools," Macron said. "I judge this is simply a wide rule. Clear for our teenagers, wide for families, wide for teachers, and we are moving forward."

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The determination would travel Australia’s pb aft the state introduced a world-first prohibition connected societal media for children nether 16 years aged successful December, restricting entree to platforms specified arsenic Facebook, TikTok and YouTube.

Fox News Digital’s Bonny Chu and The Associated Press contributed to this report.