Macron and WHO chief call for tougher rules on children’s digital access

French President Emmanuel Macron and World Health Organization Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus have urged governments to treat children’s exposure to digital platforms as a public-health issue, as more countries move toward age limits for social media. Their intervention comes as Australia, Indonesia and other governments pursue restrictions focused on users under 16, while France is advancing a threshold for those under 15.

Writing in a Project Syndicate commentary, Macron and Tedros said digital systems now influence how children learn, communicate, play and form relationships. They argued that the policy challenge is to preserve the benefits of technology while reducing risks to health and development.

Age limits gain political support

Several governments have already moved beyond voluntary platform commitments, according to Macron and Tedros. Australia has put in place what they described as the first requirement for social-media companies to stop children under 16 from holding accounts. Indonesia has banned access for children under 16, and Spain has announced plans for a similar measure.

France is moving legislation that would bar access to social media for children under 15. Ireland is working with European Union partners on age restrictions and age-assurance systems aimed at protecting under-16s. The United Kingdom has announced plans to prevent social-media platforms from offering services to under-16s, with additional protections covering livestreaming and contact from strangers. Canada has introduced legislation to limit access for children under 16 and require stronger platform accountability and safety-by-design protections.

Age-assurance rules shift the compliance burden toward platforms by requiring systems that determine whether a user is old enough to access a service. Safety-by-design requirements go further, asking companies to build protections into products before children encounter harmful features or content.

Health risks and platform design

Macron and Tedros said online services can help children reach education, health information and communities, including in remote or crisis-affected areas. They also said those benefits depend on access, product design and the commercial incentives behind the technology.

They warned that digital environments are shaped by rules, algorithms and monetisation models. According to the commentary, repeated exposure to sexualised, violent, discriminatory or stereotyped content can affect how children see themselves and others. They also said algorithms may rank health information for attention rather than accuracy, allowing misleading claims to spread.

The two leaders cited evidence associating excessive digital exposure with anxiety, depression, poor sleep, aggression and, in more serious cases, suicidality, particularly among vulnerable adolescents. They also pointed to digital marketing for tobacco, alcohol and gambling platforms, as well as the potential for online activity to displace sleep, physical activity and offline relationships.

Macron and Tedros said online sexual exploitation and abuse are rising globally, alongside increases in child sexual abuse material, AI-generated abuse imagery and deepfake sexual or bullying content. They argued that platforms designed to maximise engagement can intensify these risks when protections for children are insufficient.

WHO role and AI concerns

The WHO is supporting governments by strengthening research on the effects of current and emerging technologies, offering technical advice and promoting safer digital health environments, according to the commentary. Macron and Tedros said evidence should include independent, long-term research across income levels and regions.

They described generative AI as both a possible support for education, accessibility and health, and a source of uncertain risks for children’s development. Because the long-term effects on relationships, empathy and self-regulation remain unclear, they argued for a precautionary approach.

Macron and Tedros called for collaboration among governments, industry, civil society, schools, communities, caregivers and public-health institutions. They said young people should be included in setting guardrails because they are active users of the technologies under regulation.

This story draws on original reporting from Project Syndicate.