MACRON SAYS ‘SOCIAL MEDIA IS DAMAGING OUR DEMOCRACIES’

French President Emmanuel Macron has warned that social media is damaging democracy by deepening divisions and shaping how people react to violence.

Speaking to reporters during a visit to Marseille on Monday, Macron said online platforms had played a role in mobilising people during recent protests in France.

He argued that the way violent scenes circulate online can leave viewers shocked while making the real consequences of those events seem distant or unreal.

According to Macron, social media helped draw people to locations where attacks, looting and other criminal acts took place during the October 17 unrest.

His comments came as France prepared for further demonstrations. He acknowledged that security forces had been deployed in insufficient numbers during the earlier protests.

Macron also said the government must address the legitimate concerns behind the demonstrations. He promised engagement with unions and employers, alongside measures to protect people, property and public spaces.

His remarks linked concerns about online activity with the government’s response to unrest and public grievances.