France's Lower House Backs Social Media Ban for Under-15s Amid Mental Health Concerns

• France's National Assembly approved legislation to ban children under 15 from social media due to concerns over online bullying and mental health.
• The bill passed with 116 votes to 23 and will now proceed to the Senate before a final vote in the lower house.
• President Emmanuel Macron supports the ban, citing social media's link to youth violence and aiming for implementation by September, following Australia's lead.
• Lawmakers emphasized the need to protect children, noting negative impacts like reduced reading, sleep, and increased social comparison.
• The legislation requires platforms to implement age-verification mechanisms compliant with EU law and extends the smartphone ban to high schools.

Why It Matters: France's lower house approved a bill to ban social media for under-15s, citing mental health and safety concerns.