France’s pioneering attempt to restrict social media access for under-15s faces a constitutional setback, highlighting the balance between child protection and fundamental rights amid privacy fears and legal challenges.
France’s push to bar social media access for children under 15 has moved from political landmark to constitutional setback in the space of weeks. In July, both houses of parliament backed the measure, making France the first EU country to approve such a restriction, with lawmakers also supporting a ban on mobile phones in high schools. But on 14 August, the Constitutional Council struck down the proposed law, saying it went too far in curbing fundamental rights, including freedom of expression and privacy.
The ruling undercuts one of President Emmanuel Macron’s flagship child-safety initiatives, which had been scheduled to take effect in September. The parliamentary version of the bill had passed overwhelmingly in both chambers, reflecting broad concern in France about children’s exposure to social media and the pressure it can place on young users.
Public-health concerns have been central to the debate. France’s national health watchdog, ANSES, warned in January that social media can pose significant risks to adolescent mental health after a five-year scientific review. That assessment gave added weight to arguments from supporters of the ban, who say platforms can intensify anxiety, disrupt sleep and expose minors to harmful content.
But the Constitutional Council said the draft law was too blunt, applying a universal restriction to all platforms and all minors without enough distinction by age, risk level or parental discretion. It also raised privacy concerns over mandatory age verification, echoing wider criticism from digital-rights advocates that such rules can be overbroad and difficult to enforce. The legal defeat leaves France still searching for a model that protects children online without crossing constitutional limits.
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