Social Media Ban for Under-15s: Gabriel Attal Calls for Referendum

French presidential candidate Gabriel Attal has urged President Emmanuel Macron to hold a referendum on banning social media access for individuals under 15. This call comes after the Constitutional Council censured a law previously passed by Parliament that sought to protect young people from the harmful effects of online platforms.

Attal, who was actively involved in the parliamentary process for the social media law, believes a referendum is the most expedient way to implement the measure. He stated that a new legislative procedure could take up to two years, during which approximately 1.5 million children would remain exposed to algorithms for an average of 1 hour and 47 minutes daily. "Thanks to the referendum, we could therefore act without delay," Attal asserted.

He also argued for the constitutional validity of a referendum on this issue, suggesting that a law protecting children and prohibiting social media use for those under 15 falls under the nation's "social policy." Attal believes such a measure fits within the scope of Article 11 of the Constitution, which allows for referendums.

The Constitutional Council's decision to censure the law was based on its finding that the legislation "constitutes an attack that is not adapted, necessary and proportionate" to the freedom of expression and communication for young people. This reform was intended to be one of the significant societal changes marking the end of Macron's term.