France Approves Social Media Ban for Under-15s: Macron Pushes for September Implementation

• France's National Assembly approved a bill to ban social media for children under 15, aiming to curb online bullying, screen addiction, and mental health risks.
• President Emmanuel Macron supports the bill, calling it a "significant step" and urging for its implementation by the next academic year in September.
• The proposed law will also ban 'social networking features' on other digital platforms for under-15s and require strict age verification systems.
• Macron emphasized protecting children's brains from algorithms and building a generation rooted in French values, not anxiety.
• While Australia implemented a similar ban for under-16s, challenges in age verification and enforcement are anticipated in France.

Why It Matters: France moves to ban social media for under-15s to protect youth mental health, with Macron pushing for September enforcement.