So, here we go again. Another government thinks it can fight the internet. Another group of suits in a fancy building thinks they can stop the tide with a spoon. This time, the algorithm is picking up on the **France social media ban**. They have decided that the best way to handle the modern world is to just say "no."

The big boss over there, **Emmanuel Macron**, has endorsed a high-profile plan to effectively ban social media for anyone under the age of 15. Yeah, you heard me right. They want to enforce a **digital age of consent** that makes it illegal for a fourteen-year-old to scroll through videos of cats or silly dances on TikTok. The French leadership is all fired up about it, pushing a "fast-track" method to get this law on the books by September. They want it done fast. They want to look like men of action solving **smartphone addiction**.

Let’s be real for a second. This is laughable. It is the kind of idea that sounds great to a room full of old people who still have trouble turning on their TV remotes. It sounds nice in a speech. "We are protecting the children from **online harms**!" they yell. "We are saving their minds!" everyone cheers. But in the real world, where the rest of us actually live—and search for practical solutions—this is a joke without a punchline.

Think about how this is supposed to work. How do you stop a kid from getting on the internet? Have you met a teenager lately? These kids are born with a smartphone in their hand. They know more about **bypassing parental controls** by age six than most politicians learn in a lifetime. You think a law is going to stop them? You think a digital gate is going to keep them out? Please.

If you put a lock on the front door, the kids will just climb through the window. If you lock the window, they will dig a tunnel. Kids today use **VPNs** and special software to hide where they are. They use private networks. They log in on their parents' devices. They are smarter than the people making the laws. That is just a fact. The government is bringing a wet noodle to a gunfight.

But let’s look at why they are doing this. It isn't because they actually think it will work. They aren't that stupid. Or maybe they are, who knows? But the real reason is that it makes them look good for the SEO of their political careers. It is all a show. It is performative. The Right loves it because it sounds like "order" and "discipline." The Left loves it because it sounds like "protecting mental health" and fighting big tech corporations. Everyone gets to pretend they are the good guys.

Meanwhile, nobody wants to talk about the parents. Oh no, we can't blame the parents. That would be mean. But let's be honest. Who bought the kid the phone? Who pays the bill? Who is sitting on the couch right next to the kid, ignoring them while scrolling through their own phone? The parents.

Mom and Dad want the government to be the babysitter. They don't want to have the hard fight with their kid. They don't want to take the phone away and deal with the screaming. They want a law to do the heavy lifting for them. They want to point to the government and say, "Sorry, honey, the President says no." It is lazy. It is weak. And it is exactly what I expect from modern society.

And what about the tech companies? Do you think they care? They will play along. They will put a little box on the screen that asks, "Are you 15?" The kid will click "Yes." The company will say, "Well, we asked!" and then keep serving them ads. It is a big game of pretend. Everyone is lying to everyone else.

This deadline of September is just the cherry on top. They are rushing it. When you rush a law, you make mistakes. You create a mess. But they don't care about the mess. They care about the headline. They want to say they did something before the next election cycle starts heating up.

We have seen this movie before. Remember when they tried to ban rock and roll? Remember when they tried to ban video games? Remember when they tried to ban alcohol? Humans want what they can't have. By making social media "forbidden fruit," Macron is just making it cooler. He is making it the rebellious thing to do. Every kid in France is going to want an account now, just to prove they can get one.

In the end, this changes nothing. The kids will still be online. The parents will still be disengaged. The politicians will pat themselves on the back and go to fancy dinners. And the world will keep getting dumber, one click at a time.

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### References & Fact-Check * **Original Event**: The French government has proposed legislation to regulate social media usage for minors, requiring a "digital age of consent" of 15. The proposal has been endorsed by President Emmanuel Macron. * **Source**: [BBC News: France debates under-15s social media ban endorsed by Macron](https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c07x003vx0yo?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss) * **Topic Authority**: For more on digital safety laws, see current EU regulations regarding the Digital Services Act (DSA).