French Constitutional Council suspends ban on social media access for under-15s
The French Constitutional Council has annulled a law that would have banned social media access for children under 15 years old. The council ruled that the law, supported by President Emmanuel Macron, disproportionately infringes on freedom of expression and lacks sufficient privacy protections. Macron had previously thanked lawmakers for supporting the legislation and planned to implement it by September. Following the ruling, the Elysee Palace instructed Prime Minister Sebastian Lecornu to prepare a new legally sound draft of the legislation that complies with both the constitutional decision and European regulatory frameworks. The invalidated law proposed a two-step implementation: banning the creation of new social media accounts for those under 15 starting September 1st, and restricting existing accounts from January 1st, 2027. Other countries, including Australia, Austria, Spain, Italy, and Slovenia, have also considered similar restrictions on social media use for minors.
The French Constitutional Council has invalidated a law aimed at banning social media access for individuals under the age of 15, marking a setback for President Emmanuel Macron’s legislative agenda. The law had been passed by the National Assembly in July, with plans to implement the ban starting September 1. However, the Constitutional Council ruled the measure unconstitutional, citing excessive interference with freedom of expression and insufficient safeguards for privacy rights. This decision comes amid growing global efforts to regulate youth access to digital platforms, with several countries having already introduced similar restrictions. The invalidated law would have prohibited children under 15 from creating new accounts on platforms such as TikTok, Instagram, and Snapchat, with existing accounts facing restrictions from January 1, 2027. The Constitutional Council’s ruling specifically highlighted concerns over the lack of clear provisions for verifying users' ages and ensuring compliance with privacy protections. While the law included measures related to limiting phone usage in secondary schools, these were not addressed in the council's decision. President Macron had championed the legislation as part of his broader initiative to protect young people from the potential harms of social media, including issues like attention fragmentation, reduced academic performance, and difficulties in forming peer relationships. He had previously struggled to push through pension reforms during his second term and now faces another challenge in implementing this digital regulation. Following the court’s decision, Macron instructed Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu to draft a revised version of the bill that aligns with constitutional requirements and European regulatory frameworks. The ruling by the Constitutional Council has implications beyond France. Other countries, including Australia, which implemented a ban on social media for those under 16 in December 2025, and Brazil, which introduced strict regulations on youth access to digital platforms since March 2026, have taken similar steps. In Brazil, minors must link their accounts to parental ones, require parental consent for app downloads, and face limitations on features that could lead to dependency. Failure to comply by tech companies risks substantial fines or even service suspension. Meanwhile, in the United States, a landmark ruling by the Supreme Court of New Mexico ordered Meta Platforms Inc., owner of Instagram and Facebook, to pay $942 million in damages for its role in harming the mental health of minors. In Europe, discussions around regulating youth access to social media continue. The European Commission’s president, Ursula von der Leyen, has indicated that the EU is preparing a directive to limit young people’s access to online platforms. Several other European nations, including Austria, Spain, Italy, and Slovenia, are also considering similar measures. These developments reflect a broader trend toward balancing digital freedoms with protective measures for younger generations. France’s failed attempt to enact the social media restriction highlights the challenges of reconciling public policy goals with constitutional and legal constraints. Despite the setback, Macron remains committed to advancing the reform, instructing officials to work on a revised proposal that meets both constitutional standards and international regulatory expectations. The government aims to reintroduce the legislation before the spring of next year, ahead of upcoming presidential elections in France. The outcome of this effort will depend on how effectively policymakers can address the concerns raised by the Constitutional Council while maintaining the core objectives of protecting youth from potential digital harms.
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