French Senate debates social media ban for under-15s

France's upper house of parliament, the Senate, is set to debate a proposed ban on social media for children under the age of 15 on Tuesday.

The Senate is expected to propose amendments to the legislation already approved by the lower house, the National Assembly, which may mean it could take some time before the ban is finally adopted.

French President Emmanuel Macron has pushed for the measure to take effect as early as the next school year, citing concerns over the impact of screen time on education and mental health among young people.

The National Assembly backed a blanket ban in January, but a Senate committee raised legal concerns about such a sweeping restriction. It has proposed several fundamental changes to the proposal.

The Senate is now to discuss whether specific platforms could be banned, while others may be permitted with parental consent.