PARIS — French President Emmanuel Macron said he wants to fast-track legislation to ban social media for children under 15, aiming for the measure to take effect in September at the start of the next school year. In a video released late Saturday by broadcaster BFM-TV, Macron said he had asked his government to use an accelerated procedure so the bill can move quickly through parliament and be passed by the Senate in time. “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 sale or to be manipulated. Neither by American platforms, nor by Chinese algorithms.” The announcement came days after the British government said it would consider banning young teenagers from social media as it tightens laws to protect children from harmful content and excessive screen time. France’s health watchdog says one in two teenagers spends between two and five hours a day on a smartphone. In a December report, it said about 90% of children aged 12 to 17 use smartphones daily to access the internet, with 58% using them for social networks. The report cited harmful effects linked to social media use, including reduced self-esteem and greater exposure to content associated with risky behaviors such as self-harm, drug use and suicide. Several families in France have filed lawsuits against TikTok over teen suicides they allege are linked to harmful content. Macron’s office said the video was addressed to lawmaker Laure Miller, who is sponsoring the bill scheduled for public debate Monday. “We are banning social media for under-15s, and we are going to ban mobile phones in our high schools,” Macron said. “This is a clear rule — for teenagers, for families and for teachers.” Other countries are watching closely. In Australia, social media companies have revoked access to about 4.7 million accounts identified as belonging to children since the country banned use of the platforms by those under 16, officials said.
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