France as first EU country to ban social media for under-15s

France approved a social media ban for children under 15 on Tuesday, becoming the first country in the European Union to pass a blanket ban of this type.

Both chambers of the parliament favoured the measure, which includes the ban of mobile phone usage in high schools.

Several families in France have sued TikTok as they believed the teen suicides are down to the harmful effects of the digital content.

The legislation marks one of the final major measures adopted under President Emmanuel Macron's presidency, which ends next year. Macron wants the law to take effect at the start of the new school year in September.

Meanwhile, a lawmaker from left-wing party France Unbowed described the bill as "hypocritical, dangerous and inapplicable", adding that the law would put an end to anonymity on the Internet.

It is expected to face legal challenges from opponents seeking a review to determine if the bill is in line with the French Constitution.