French Lawmakers Vote to Ban Social Media for Under-15s, Macron Hails "Major Step"

• French National Assembly passes bill to prohibit social media use for children under 15, championed by President Emmanuel Macron.
• The bill, passed by 130 to 21 votes, now moves to the Senate for final approval.
• Macron stated the ban is recommended by scientists and demanded by the French public, aiming to protect children from excessive screen time and mental health impacts.
• The legislation also includes a ban on mobile phones in schools, making France the second country after Australia to implement such measures.
• If passed, new accounts will face enforcement from the 2026 school year, with existing non-compliant accounts deactivated by December 31.

Why It Matters: France moves to ban social media for under-15s, following Australia, to protect youth mental health.