French Assembly Approves Social Media Ban for Under-15s; Macron Pushes September Start

• France's National Assembly approved a bill to ban social media access for children under 15, aiming to curb online bullying, screen addiction, and mental health risks.
• The legislation, passed with a 116-23 vote, will now proceed to the Senate before a final vote in the lower house.
• President Emmanuel Macron supports the ban, citing scientific advocacy and public demand, and is pushing for implementation by September, the start of the next academic year.
• Macron emphasized protecting young people from powerful tech platforms, stating, "Our children’s brains are not for sale… Their dreams cannot be dictated by algorithms."
• The law requires platforms to enforce age limits via EU-compliant verification mechanisms and extends the smartphone ban to high schools, though enforcement remains a challenge.

Why It Matters: France moves to ban social media for under-15s by September to protect youth mental health and combat screen addiction.