By Anjali Sharma
WASHINGTON – French President Emmanuel Macron on Thursday has warned about the growing influence of major social media platforms over young people, urged Europe to rapidly tighten digital regulation to protect teenagers and uphold democratic norms.
He was speaking at the European Digital Sovereignty Summit in Berlin.
Macron said European teenagers now spend “four to five hours per day” on social networks, where much of what they see is shaped by opaque algorithms run by a handful of global tech giants.
Macron argued this concentration of influence, exposes young people to “hyper-bullying, pornography, mental-health issues and other harmful content,” while governments have effectively outsourced responsibility for children’s online safety to foreign platforms.
“Let’s be clear: these platforms design the content your children consume,” Macron said. “We have de facto given them exclusivity over our teenagers’ digital lives. ”President Macron contended that the issue extends past child protection, striking at the heart of Europe’s democratic stability.
He stressed that the problem extends far beyond child protection, warning that algorithmic control over what billions of people see threatens the foundations of democratic life. When platforms influence public debate without transparency, accountability or compliance with national laws, he said, the conditions for genuine free expression no longer exist.
Macron warned that when algorithms shape public discourse without transparency or oversight, such influence cannot qualify as true free expression.
“For me, we don’t speak about free speech when the algorithm is hidden and in the hands of very few players, and when they don’t implement the laws decided by the citizens of the country,” Macron said.
“This is a Wild West, not free speech.” Macron urged EU member states to accelerate efforts to regulate platform algorithms, enforce existing rules more aggressively, and introduce stronger safeguards for minors.
He added that protecting young people online, he said, is essential not only for mental health and education but for the long-term stability of democratic societies.
“If we want digital sovereignty, we must protect our children, our teenagers and our democratic space,” Macron concluded.
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