French President Emmanuel Macron announced the possibility of banning access to social media for children under 15 if progress is not made soon at the European Union level in regulating this issue. The decision followed a deadly attack by a student on a school supervisor in Nozhan. Macron emphasized that waiting is no longer an option and that excessive use of social media is a risk factor for children. He also announced additional security measures, including age verification for users and heavy fines for sites that do not comply with the rules. France, with the support of Greece and Spain, is leading an initiative to limit the time teenagers spend online, and Prime Minister François Bayrou announced a ban on the sale of knives to minors.
Political Perspectives:
Left: Left-leaning outlets emphasize the protection of children from harmful online content and the importance of government intervention to regulate social media usage among minors. They highlight the social responsibility of platforms and support age restrictions as a necessary step to safeguard youth mental health and safety.
Center: Center-leaning sources report the announcement factually, focusing on the context of recent violent incidents and the EU-wide regulatory efforts. They present Macron’s measures as pragmatic responses to growing concerns about online safety and the need for coordinated policy across Europe.
Right: Right-leaning media often stress the importance of personal responsibility and parental control but acknowledge the need for some regulation to prevent harm. They may also highlight concerns about government overreach and the impact of social media on youth behavior, supporting measures like age verification and restrictions on dangerous items like knives.
