Social media banned for those under 15: Gabriel Attal calls for a referendum

Gabriel Attal is calling on Emmanuel Macron to hold a referendum on banning social media for those under 15. This proposal comes after the Constitutional Council struck down the provision adopted by Parliament to protect minors from the effects of digital platforms.

The President of the Republic has already asked Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu to prepare a new version of the text, taking into account the observations of the Constitutional Council. Gabriel Attal wants this new wording to be submitted directly to the French people, noting that no national referendum has been held for twenty-one years.

Avoid another two-year procedure

The former Prime Minister believes that a new parliamentary process could delay the ban's implementation by nearly two years. He states that 1,5 million children spend almost two hours a day on social media and therefore believes that a public consultation would allow for faster action.

Gabriel Attal considers the referendum legally possible under Article 11 of the Constitution, arguing that child protection falls under the nation's social policy. The Constitutional Council had struck down the initial version of the text, deeming the blanket ban a disproportionate infringement on minors' freedom of expression and communication.