French lawmakers vote to ban social media use by under-15s

French president Emmanuel Macron has championed a new bill which would see social media banned for under-15s, similar to Australia’s recent law. File photo

France's National Assembly has backed legislation to ban children under 15 years old from social media, amid growing concerns about online bullying and mental health risks.

The bill proposes banning under-15s from social networks and "social networking functionalities" embedded within broader platforms, and reflects rising public angst over the impact of social media on minors.