New Delhi, July 22 -- French lawmakers have banned children under 15 from accessing social media in the country. The new law was first passed by the French Senate on Tuesday, followed by approval in the National Assembly by 279 votes to 81.

Notably, France has now become the first country in the European Union to pass a sweeping law restricting access to social media for children under 15.

The move by French lawmakers comes amid growing concerns over the impact of social media on children's mental health. According to France's health watchdog, around 90% of children aged 12 to 17 use smartphones daily to access the internet, while more than half spend between two and five hours a day on their devices.

The watchdog also found excessive ...