The eternal political debate around violent video games and youth
President Emmanuel Macron has relaunched a sensitive debate in France by announcing that he would like to entrust a mission of experts with carrying out a scientific study on the effects of video games on children and adolescents. He presents this initiative as methodical and documented work, lasting approximately two months, carried out in particular with the support of the National Digital and AI Council, as well as experts. The objective is to know precisely the real effects of video games, whether cognitive, social or behavioral, before considering any public action.
The subject arose while the media Brut broadcast a video, which went viral, showing an angry teacher demanding a ban on video games, citing children aged 7 and 8 playing Fortnite. She spoke out following the premeditated attack on a plastic arts teacher in Sanary-sur-Mer by a teenager.
Despite measured remarks at the start of the intervention by recalling the responsibility of parents (which refers to the usefulness of classification systems such as PEGI or parental control tools) while emphasizing that all video games are not equal, the link between violence and video games was once again highlighted.
“There are video games that are not violent, where we can interact, we play in a network, where we will develop skills. So there are video games which sometimes even have an educational aspect which are good. (…) When you spend 5 or 6 hours a day killing people, being in this logic of predation, well it’s clear that at some point that conditions young people…”
As recalled by the National Video Game Union (SNJV) as well as many professionals in the sector, numerous scientific studies have already indicated that the direct correlation between video games and violence has not been established. Without denying that there may be certain excesses linked to this entertainment, research first points to social, psychological causes, or those linked to the family environment, when it comes to violent behavior.
📣 Press release
The National Video Game Union, which brings together video game companies in France, has taken note of the link made between violence and video games by the President of the Republic Emmanuel Macron, who is calling for a study with a view to possible bans. pic.twitter.com/sfY967Ubpq
— SNJV (@SNJV_fr) February 6, 2026
It thus opened the door to the possibility that this study could lead to policy recommendations, including strong measures such as restricting or banning certain games for young people, but only if the scientific results justify it. This announcement comes in a rather paradoxical context, while the members of Sandfall Interactive, the studio behind Chiaroscuro: Expedition 33were elevated to the rank of Knights of the Order of Arts and Letters on February 5 by the Minister of Culture, Rachida Dati.