Brief by Shorts91 Newsdesk / 01:26pm on 30 Jan 2026,Friday International
France is advancing a major digital safety law to ban children under 15 from using social media in an effort to protect youth from online harms such as cyberbullying and mental health issues. Lawmakers in the Assemblée Nationale approved the bill by a strong majority, and it now moves to the Senate before final passage. The proposal would require platforms to implement age-verification rules and could take effect by September 2026, aligning with international trends following Australia’s under-16 ban. The law also proposes extending smartphone restrictions in schools and has sparked debate over enforcement and digital rights. (PC: Getty Images)
