French President Emmanuel Macron announced his intention to introduce a ban on the use of social networks for children under the age of 15, if the relevant decision is not taken at the level of the European Union. He said this on air of France 2 TV channel, commenting on the tragic incident in the city of Nogent-sur-Marne, where a schoolboy attacked with a knife an employee of an educational institution.
According to Macron, these events require more action from the authorities, including in the sphere of digital security. Macron Noted that the impact of social networks on the child’s psychology is mostly negative and gives grounds for the spread of violence. Macron noted that parents, teachers and child psychologists are growing more concerned about the availability of social networks for children. France is already planning measures to establish digital identification and compulsory parental consent for teenagers to sign up on internet websites.
If the initiative is realised, France will become one of the first countries in Europe to have an age barrier on the use of social networks. The French authorities are expected to present a more detailed plan for the implementation of the initiative in the near future.
