PARIS, Jan. 28 -- French lawmakers on Tuesday approved a bill that would ban children under 15 from using social media, a measure championed by President Emmanuel Macron to protect young people from excessive screen time and the mental health risks linked to online platforms.

Read More: Under-15s barred from social media in France

The lower house, the National Assembly, passed the legislation by a vote of 130 to 21 after an overnight session. The bill will now move to the Senate before it can become law. Authorities aim for enforcement from the start of the new school year in September, applying to new accounts. Existing accounts not meeting the age requirement must be deactivated by December 31, 2026.

Macron called the vote a "major s...