Young people in France will not be blocked from using social media platforms this autumn after the country's highest constitutional authority struck down a proposed national ban for teenagers under 15.
The Constitutional Council ruled on Friday that the landmark legislation infringed upon young people's rights to freedom of expression and communication. The decision overrides a law passed by French lawmakers in July, which aimed to address growing concerns over how digital platforms impact children's mental health. France had set out to become the first European nation to enforce such a restriction.
In its judgment, the council stated that Article 1 of the bill was neither appropriate, necessary, nor proportionate to justify restricting access for minors. Judges also highlighted significant flaws in the bill's requirements for online age verification, warning that the proposed rules lacked the legal safeguards necessary to protect user privacy.
Critics had repeatedly voiced doubts about the law's practicality, pointing out the risk of teenagers bypassing age-verification tools and expressing concern over how rapidly the legislation was drafted.
Following the ruling, President Emmanuel Macron instructed Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu to prepare a new draft bill that addresses all the council's legal objections. Macron's office confirmed that the government remains determined to implement a revised reform by early 2027.
France's initiative reflects a broader international push to regulate youth social media use. Australia implemented a ban for under-16s last December, though many teenagers there still manage to access platforms. Similar proposals are currently being considered across Europe, including EU-wide restrictions and a planned UK ban scheduled for 2027.