France’s National Assembly OKs social media ban for under-15s

French lawmakers have approved a law prohibiting children under 15 from using social media, joining other governments in tightening protections for minors against harmful content, following Australia’s landmark legislation last year.
The lower national assembly adopted the text by a vote of 130 to 21 in a lengthy overnight session from Monday to Tuesday.
It will now go to the Senate, France’s upper house, before it could become law. Lawmakers are hoping the ban will come into force before the new school year begins in the autumn.
President Emmanuel Macron hailed the vote as a “major step” to protect French children and teenagers in a post on X.
“The emotions of our children and teenagers are not for sale or to be manipulated, either by American platforms or Chinese algorithms,” Macron said in a video broadcast on Saturday.