Top Court Blocks France’s Social Media Ban for Minors

​PARIS — France’s Constitutional Council has struck down a landmark bill that would have prohibited children under 15 from accessing social media, delivering a significant blow to President Emmanuel Macron’s efforts to regulate the digital landscape.

​The ruling, issued this past Friday, marks a major legal setback for the administration, which had hoped to make France the first European Union nation to enforce a blanket social media age limit by the start of the school year in September.

​A “Disproportionate” Infringement

​In its decision, the Constitutional Council characterized the proposed legislation as overly broad and lacking necessary safeguards. While acknowledging that protecting children from online harm is a legitimate and pressing goal, the court found the specific methods chosen by lawmakers to be constitutionally flawed.

​The court’s key objections included:

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• ​Freedom of Expression: The judges ruled that a blanket ban constitutes a disproportionate infringement on the fundamental right to freedom of expression and communication.

• ​Scope Concerns: The legislation was deemed too sweeping, as it failed to distinguish between high-risk platforms and other online tools—such as collaboration apps or educational games—that do not inherently threaten the safety or health of minors.

• ​Privacy and Identity: The court highlighted that enforcing the ban would effectively require all users, including adults, to undergo mandatory age verification, a requirement that failed to provide sufficient legal safeguards for personal data and privacy.

• ​Lack of Flexibility: The ruling criticized the bill for failing to account for individual circumstances, such as the maturity of the minor or the ability of guardians to grant authorization in specific contexts.

​The Road Ahead

​Following the ruling, the Élysée Palace confirmed that President Macron remains steadfast in his commitment to safeguarding minors online. Scientific evidence regarding the negative impacts of social media on youth mental health—including links to anxiety and depression—remains a central pillar of the administration’s policy.

​President Macron has tasked Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu with drafting a “legally robust” revision of the proposal. The administration is working with an ambitious deadline, aiming to implement a compliant framework by spring 2027, ahead of the next presidential election.

​A Global Debate

​The French ruling arrives as countries around the world grapple with similar digital regulations. Australia enacted its own under-16 social media restriction last December, and several other nations, including the United Kingdom, Spain, Greece, and Denmark, are currently evaluating their own legislative options.

​As governments continue to navigate the balance between protecting youth and upholding digital freedoms, international observers are closely watching how France reconciles these constitutional requirements with its broader vision for online safety.