France Says No to Social Media for Under-15s—For Now
A court ruling has blocked France's proposed ban, but the debate over children and social media is far from over
ERBIL (Kurdistan24) - France's plan to restrict social media access for children under 15 was blocked by the country's Constitutional Council on Friday, after the court found that the law went too far in limiting freedom of expression and protecting privacy.
President Emmanuel Macron has since asked his government to rewrite the legislation.
A Ban Meant to Protect Children
The proposed law would have stopped children under 15 from opening social media accounts from September 1.
Existing accounts would have been closed within four months, while platforms would have been required to verify user's ages.
The measure was approved by French lawmakers in July as part of efforts to increase protection for young people online.
Why Was the Law Blocked?
France's Constitutional Council said the law did not clearly explain how age verification would work or provide enough protection for user's privacy.
It also ruled that the restrictions placed a disproportionate limit on freedom of expression and communication.
The Debate Goes Beyond France
France is not the only country considering stricter rules for young social media users.
Reuters reported that Australia introduced a ban for users under 16 in December 2025, while countries including China, the United Arab Emirates and Türkiye have also introduced or considered restrictions.
The European Union has also said it wants stronger protections for children from harmful features on social media.
What Happens Next?
The court's decision does not mean France has abandoned the idea.
President Emmanuel Macron has asked Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu to rewrite the legislation, taking the Constitutional Council's concerns into account.
The government still wants the new rules to take effect before spring 2027.
A Question That Remains
France's attempt to restrict social media for under-15s shows how difficult it can be to balance online safety with personal freedoms.
As more governments consider similar restrictions, the bigger question may be how young is too young for social media, and who should get to decide?
Raz Zaito Toffiq contributed to this article.