French lawmakers approve social media ban for children under 15

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PARIS: French lawmakers approved landmark legislation on Tuesday banning children under 15 from using social media platforms. The historic vote makes France the first country in the European Union to pass a blanket ban on the platforms amid growing concerns over the harmful effects of digital content on kids.

Championed by President Emmanuel Macron, the flagship law aims to protect minors from cyberbullying, addictive algorithms, and severe mental health risks. The legislation also introduces a nationwide ban on mobile phone usage in high schools.

President Macron pledged to enforce the new restrictions at the start of the upcoming school year on September 1. Social media platforms will bear the sole legal responsibility for implementing regulator-approved age verification systems to block underage users.

Exemptions are maintained for educational directories, online encyclopedias, and scientific resources. The measure now awaits a final constitutional review before taking full effect.

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