Macron Criticized for Urging Europeans to Shun Social Media, Promoting State Media as Reliable News Source
French President Emmanuel Macron has sparked controversy after urging Europeans to abandon social media platforms in favor of traditional public media, a move critics describe as an attack on free speech.
Speaking in Paris on Wednesday, Macron said people were “completely wrong” to rely on social networks for news, insisting that citizens should instead depend on journalists and established media outlets.
He argued that social platforms operate on a “process of maximum excitement” designed to “maximize advertising revenue,” which he claimed is “destroying the foundations of democratic debate.”
The French leader also accused X (formerly Twitter) of being “dominated by far-right content,” saying the platform was no longer neutral under its current ownership.
Macron’s remarks have drawn backlash from free speech advocates, who view his comments as an attempt to delegitimize independent voices online and strengthen government influence over information dissemination.
