France Targets AI and Gaming Risks for Children

France is stepping up its efforts to protect young people from the fast-changing digital world. President Emmanuel Macron has announced a new national study into how artificial intelligence and video games affect children — a move that deepens Europe’s growing campaign for greater online safety and responsibility.

A Study Sparked by Concern for Children

Macron revealed the strategy following heated debate in France’s National Assembly, which recently passed a bill banning social media access for children under 15. Describing it as a “major step” forward, the president said more must be done to shield young minds from corporate influence and addictive design.

“The brains of our children and teenagers are not for sale,” Macron declared in a televised address. “Their emotions are not to be manipulated — not by American platforms, nor by Chinese algorithms.”

The government’s new study aims to explore how violent video games, AI-driven recommendation systems, and immersive gaming worlds shape children’s social behavior, attention span, and emotional development.

Part of a Broader Digital Protection Drive

France’s proposed legislation expands beyond traditional social media platforms. According to Le Monde, it also targets in-game social features — for example, chat and community functions within popular titles like Roblox and Fortnite — when these tools expose minors to potential harm.

The law will:

Ban social media access for under-15s, requiring strict age verification.
Review gaming and AI systems that employ manipulative algorithms or promote unhealthy online behavior.
Launch educational campaigns to help parents and schools raise digital awareness.

France’s national health authority has reported that half of all teens spend between two and five hours daily on their smartphones, with 90% using them to browse the web. Health experts warn of growing links between excessive screen time and poor self-esteem, social isolation, and exposure to self-harm or suicide-related content.

Rising Momentum Across Europe

France’s move mirrors a wider European and global wave of digital reform.

Australia became the first country to outlaw social media use under age 16 in late 2025, leading to nearly 4.7 million accounts being deleted.
The UK, Spain, Portugal, Denmark, Greece, and the Netherlands are all evaluating similar proposals.
The European Commission continues to tighten data and content rules under the Digital Services Act (DSA), sparking clashes with US tech giants.

Anne Le Hénanff, France’s Minister for AI and Digital Affairs, noted the next challenge will be enforcement. “VPNs are the next topic on my list,” she told French television, referencing how children may use virtual private networks to bypass restrictions.

What Comes Next

If approved by the Senate, France’s child online safety law could take effect by the start of the 2026–27 school year. Authorities hope to have clear measures in place before September to ensure schools, parents, and digital platforms are ready.

Former Prime Minister Gabriel Attal, now head of the ruling Renaissance party in parliament, expressed optimism: “We’re moving fast — and we must, because the digital world won’t wait for us.”

Why This Matters

France’s push marks a turning point in how governments handle children’s digital rights. Beyond censorship concerns, it raises deeper questions about who controls online culture — and what values will shape the next generation’s relationship with technology.

For parents, educators, and tech companies alike, this new wave of regulation may signal a future where screen time, game design, and AI systems are no longer left to corporate discretion but guided by law, ethics, and child psychology.