France Approves Ban on Social Media for Under-15s

France's Parliament has approved a final bill banning social media access for children under 15, making it the first EU country to enact such a restriction ahead of the upcoming school year.

Key points

• The legislation passed the National Assembly with 279 votes in favor and 81 against, following approval by the Senate.
• French President Emmanuel Macron championed the measure as a key commitment for the final phase of his second mandate.
• Platforms will be required to implement age verification mechanisms to enforce the ban.
• The new rules also extend the prohibition of mobile phones in secondary schools.

Why it matters

This landmark legislation establishes a rigorous precedent for digital child protection within the European Union, forcing social media platforms to implement strict age verification mechanisms.