BREAKING: France bans social media for children under 15

Paris [France], July 24 (HBTV): France has voted to ban social media for children under the age of 15, President Emmanuel Macron said.

In a post on X, he thanked parliamentarians for their support and said, 'I had committed to it, and now it's been voted on: social media will be banned for those under 15 starting back-to-school. Thanks to the parliamentarians. It's up to the Constitutional Council to rule, then on to action to make this measure concrete and protect our children online.'

According to CNN, the move makes France the first country in the European Union to introduce such an age limit.

Earlier in June, the United Kingdom announced a ban on social media for children under the age of 16.

Former Prime Minister Keir Starmer, in a video message, called it the need of the hour and a major decision for the country. He said social media can leave children trapped in a cycle of endless scrolling that displaces play, sleep and time with family, and can harm their mental health.

Earlier in June, a government panel in Japan called for strengthening the responsibilities of social media operators by requiring stricter age verification and restricting some features, in a list of proposed measures to protect underage social media users, Kyodo News reported.

Australia implemented a blanket ban on social media for children under the age of 16 last year. Other countries, including Spain and Denmark, are also considering similar measures.

(ANI)