France’s Constitutional Council has overturned a law banning children under 15 from using social media, ruling that the measure infringed on freedom of expression.
The legislation, approved by French lawmakers in July, was intended to address concerns about the impact of social media on children’s mental health. President Emmanuel Macron had planned to introduce the ban in stages from September.
The council said Article 1 of the law “constitutes an infringement that is neither appropriate, necessary, nor proportionate” to the freedom of expression and communication for under-15s. It also criticised the requirement for users to prove their age, saying the law failed to provide “the legal safeguards necessary”.
Following the ruling, Macron asked Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu to prepare a revised draft, with his office saying the government would act “as quickly as possible” and that the president remained determined to implement the reform by early 2027.
The original law would have prevented under-15s from opening social media accounts from September, with age verification required for new users. From January, the restriction would have extended to existing accounts.
Critics had questioned the ban’s practicality, citing privacy concerns, the effectiveness of age-verification systems and the possibility of children bypassing the restrictions.
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France’s move comes amid growing efforts across Europe to restrict children’s access to social media. Australia introduced a ban for under-16s last December, while the UK has announced plans to restrict social media access for under-16s from January 2027.
