France's constitutional court rejects social media ban for minors under 15

France’s top constitutional court ruled on Friday that a proposed ban on social media for children under 15 is unconstitutional, citing the right to freedom of expression. The decision stops the law from going into force, though it does not erase the debate about protecting young people online. The ruling applies to all French platforms and will affect millions of families across the country.

The ban had been drafted in 2023 as part of a broader effort by the French government to curb the influence of social media on minors. Lawmakers argued that children under 15 are too vulnerable to harmful content, advertising, and data exploitation. The bill would have required platforms to block any account belonging to a user under that age and to enforce stricter age verification. Critics warned that the measure could isolate young users from educational resources and peer communication. The proposal was backed by a coalition of parents’ groups, child protection NGOs, and some lawmakers who feared that unchecked online activity could lead to mental health problems and radicalization.

The Constitutional Council’s decision hinged on Article 10 of France’s Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen, which guarantees freedom of expression. The court found that the ban was a disproportionate restriction on that right. In its statement, the council said that any limitation on free speech must be narrowly tailored and necessary. The court also noted that existing laws already require platforms to protect minors, such as the EU Digital Services Act and France’s own data privacy rules. The ruling was welcomed by digital rights advocates but disappointed by child‑protection groups who had seen the ban as a crucial safeguard.

The government is now facing a choice. It can either amend the legislation to address the court’s concerns or seek a new legal route. A revised bill could impose stricter content moderation for under‑15 users without banning them outright. Meanwhile, social media companies will continue to monitor their compliance with current age‑verification policies. The outcome of this process will shape France’s approach to digital safety and the balance between protecting children and preserving free expression.