France passes bill to ban social media use for children under 15

French lawmakers have approved a bill that would ban children under 15 from using social media, a move supported by President Emmanuel Macron to limit screen time and protect young users. The National Assembly passed the bill after an overnight debate, with 130 members voting in favour and 21 against. The proposed law will now go to the Senate for approval before it can come into force. If passed, the law would make France the second country after Australia to restrict social media use for minors. The bill also includes a ban on mobile phones in high schools. President Macron welcomed the vote, calling it an important step to protect children and teenagers. He said young people should not be influenced or manipulated by online platforms. The government wants the rules to apply from the start of the 2026 school year in September for new accounts. Existing accounts that do not meet the age limit would be closed later in the year. The European Commission said enforcement would depend on EU rules and proper age-verification systems. The bill excludes educational platforms and online encyclopaedias.