French lawmakers have adopted a bill banning children under 15 from using social media, making France the first European Union country to approve a blanket ban of this kind. Both chambers of parliament backed the measure, a flagship policy of President Emmanuel Macron's second term, amid growing global concern over the harmful effects of social media on children's mental health; the legislation also bans mobile phone use in French high schools.

Macron wants the law in force by the start of the new school year in September, though a constitutional review could delay this, and the ban will exempt encyclopaedias and educational or scientific sites. Critics, including the left-wing France Unbowed party and child-protection advisers, have questioned how it would be enforced, particularly around identifying and suspending existing under-15 accounts and verifying ages for new ones. The push follows lawsuits by French families against TikTok over teen suicides, and a government health watchdog report finding 90% of 12-17 year olds use smartphones daily, with 58% for social networking, and links to reduced self-esteem and exposure to self-harm and risky content.