Macron: Turn off your phones and read

French President Emmanuel Macron urged high school students today to turn off their phones and read, advocating for one "screen-free day" a month for everyone, as well as a complete ban on social media for those under 15.

After Australia introduced a pioneering ban on social media for children last year, a growing number of European countries are considering their own restrictions, as concerns grow about the impact of social media on the health and safety of minors.

"We left you in this jungle and it has taken away your attention," Macron told high school students, referring to the lack of rules on social media. "We have to slow down and help you become adults and, above all, citizens."

"That's why we want to introduce a rule that no social media before the age of 15. We would also like to have an internet-free day once a month... to show that it's possible," he said, adding that the day could be used for reading aloud, theater or other activities.

Access denied?

In France, a bill is in the parliamentary process that aims to impose a ban on under-15s. But while the lower house voted for a complete ban, senators want to block access only to platforms deemed harmful to children. This means Macron’s goal of having the new law passed by the start of the new school year in September may not be achieved.

So far, at least a dozen European countries, including non-EU countries such as Britain and Norway, have passed or are considering laws imposing a minimum age limit - usually between 13 and 16 - for using social media. The European Union, meanwhile, is preparing an age-verification app.

Cyprus is the latest to announce plans to introduce a ban, with President Nikos Christodoulides saying today that his country will set 15 as the minimum age for opening and using social media accounts.

Later in the day, Macron will hold a video call with other EU leaders to push for a coordinated approach. The conference is aimed at creating a “digital age of majority” in Europe, limiting access to children under a certain age and introducing mandatory age verification, officials said.

Opinions are divided

In Villers-Cotterêts, in northern France, where Macron outlined some of his plans, high school students had divided opinions about the ban.

"I think it's up to parents to control their children first," said 12-year-old Erdem Duran. Fabien Andronik, 15, also opposed the ban. "I love social media, we learn a lot there," he said.

But Manel Zerouali, also 15, supported a ban for those under 15, to protect them. "There is cyberbullying on social media," she stressed.

However, everyone agreed on one thing - that most young people would find a way to circumvent the ban.

Australia has seen a surge in virtual private network (VPN) downloads since the social media ban was introduced, as users try to circumvent the measure and access restricted platforms.

Take responsibility

Meanwhile, in Britain, Prime Minister Keir Starmer today told social media companies to take responsibility for the safety of children on their platforms and meet parents' demands for real protections, not "cosmetic changes."

He said he wanted to hear what specific measures the platforms intend to take, because "social networks are currently putting our children at risk," at the start of a meeting with executives from Meta, Snap, Google, TikTok and X.

Britain is consulting by next month on whether to restrict children's access to social media, including a possible ban on under-16s, as well as the introduction of curfews, time limits on app use and measures against what it says are addictive design solutions.