‘You will join the club’: Macron urges Modi to ban social media for minors

Speaking at the India AI Impact Summit 2026, Macron said safeguarding children from online abuse and harmful content is among the top priorities of the G7 nations.

“One of our G7 priorities will be children's protection against AI and digital abuse. There is no reason our children should be exposed online to what is legally forbidden in the real world,” Macron said.

“Our platforms, government and regulators should be working together to make internet and social media a safe space. This is why in France, we are embarking on a process to ban social networks for children under 15 years old,” he added.

In a message directed at Modi, Macron expressed confidence that India would adopt similar measures.

“I know, Mr Prime Minister, you will join this club, and this is great news that India will join such an approach in order to protect children and teenagers,” the French President said.

Several countries have already moved to restrict social media access for minors. Australia became the first country to implement a nationwide ban on social media for children under 16, with the law taking effect in December 2025. Platforms such as Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat and Facebook are required to enforce strict age-verification systems or face heavy penalties.

France has passed legislation to ban social media access for children under 15, with enforcement expected from 2026, amid growing concerns over cyberbullying, mental health and excessive screen time.

Meanwhile, Denmark and Spain have also announced plans to introduce similar bans and stricter age-verification measures to protect children from harmful online exposure.

The global push reflects increasing concern among governments about the impact of social media and digital platforms on children's safety, mental health and overall well-being.