France's Constitutional Council Blocks Under-15 Social Media Ban Citing Freedoms

France's Constitutional Council struck down a law banning social media for children under 15 on August 14, 2026.

The Council ruled the ban unconstitutional, stating it disproportionately infringed on freedom of expression and communication. The decision found the measure overly broad, covering not only social networking services but also collaboration tools, online communication applications, and online games with social features. The Council also determined the law failed to provide legal safeguards for the right to respect for private life, particularly regarding age-verification requirements, and prevented guardians from lifting the prohibition when deemed in a child's best interest.

The French Senate had overwhelmingly approved the ban by a 243-2 vote with 100 abstentions on July 21. Both chambers of Parliament had voted in favor of the measure, which President Emmanuel Macron had championed as one of his presidency's final major reforms. The legislation aimed to take effect in September, barring under-15s from opening new accounts and requiring platforms to close existing accounts by January.

Following the ruling, President Macron immediately tasked Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu with drafting a new, legally robust bill. Macron stated his determination to see the reform implemented by early 2027, before his term concludes. The government maintains its goal to protect children's well-being from documented harmful effects of social media. Opponents had questioned the law's viability, privacy concerns, and the efficacy of age-verification tools.

France was the first country in the European Union to pass such a blanket ban, following Australia's December 2025 ban for under-16s, which is now facing lawsuits from Reddit and the Digital Freedom Project.