At AI Impact Summit, Macron urges India to join efforts to ban social media for under-15
French President Emmanuel Macron has urged India to join a global coalition aimed at restricting social media access for children under the age of 15, during discussions at the AI Impact Summit 2026 in New Delhi, attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and key international leaders. Macron’s call follows decisive moves by countries such as Australia, which has already announced a nationwide ban on social media for users under 16, and France’s push to make digital child protection a priority across the G7 nations. Addressing the summit, India’s IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw confirmed that the government is actively reviewing age-based regulations and holding consultations with major social media platforms, marking the strongest signal yet of possible nationwide policy action.
The proposed measures come amid growing global concern about the psychological and neurological impact of algorithm-driven platforms on children and adolescents. Studies increasingly link excessive social media exposure to anxiety, sleep disruption, attention deficits, and emotional dysregulation in young users, whose brains are still undergoing critical development. Policymakers stress that the initiative is not anti-technology, but rather a protective step similar to age restrictions on alcohol, tobacco, and driving. As governments debate regulation, parents remain central to guiding digital habits at home, balancing access with boundaries to safeguard children’s mental health, sleep patterns, and long-term wellbeing.
