- Macron calls for EU-wide social media ban for children under 15.
- France may act unilaterally within months if Europe delays.
- Knife sale restrictions for minors to be tightened after school attack.
Following a tragic school stabbing in Nogent, French President Emmanuel Macron has urged the European Union to implement a ban on social media access for children under 15. The fatal incident, in which a school employee was killed and a police officer injured by a 15-year-old student, has intensified national debate over youth exposure to digital platforms and violence.
Macron warned that France will impose its own ban if the EU does not take swift action. Alongside the social media crackdown, the president announced stricter regulations on the sale of bladed weapons to minors.
France Moves to Restrict Youth Online and Weapon Access After School Tragedy
The fatal stabbing of a female school assistant by a teenager has prompted France to reassess the influence of social media and weapon accessibility on youth behavior. The attack, which took place during a school bag check, has led Macron to urge the European Union to enforce a digital age minimum of 15.
The French government says social media companies already possess the tools to verify users’ ages and must be held accountable. Macron emphasized the need for urgency, stating that France cannot wait for a protracted EU process before protecting its children.
In addition to targeting online spaces, Macron is enacting new laws to prevent minors from purchasing knives, especially online. The proposed measures include bans, increased oversight, and financial penalties for vendors who fail to comply.
Public officials, including Prime Minister François Bayrou, have framed bladed weapons as a “public enemy,” underscoring a growing concern about violent tools being too easily accessible to adolescents. The government’s message is clear: preventative action must accompany punishment.
France’s response marks a shift toward stricter digital and safety policies for minors, aiming to prevent similar tragedies by addressing both online influence and physical access to weapons.
“Platforms have the ability to verify age. Do it.” — Emmanuel Macron
