France Constitutional Council Blocks Social Media Ban for Minors

The Constitutional Council of France blocked a proposed ban on social media for children under 15, ruling the legislation unconstitutional. The court found that the law would harm the freedom of speech and communication for youths.

Emmanuel Macron championed the bill, which Parliament approved in July. The legislation would have prevented users under 15 from creating new accounts starting in September and required the deletion of existing profiles by January. Macron previously argued the restrictions were necessary to combat bullying and loneliness, stating that "our children’s brains are not for sale."

Following the ruling, Macron's office announced that the president will continue to seek reforms before his term ends next spring. Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu has been tasked with drafting new legislation that complies with the court's legal standards. The decision creates a significant legal obstacle for the global movement to restrict teenage social media access, which recently saw a landmark ban implemented in Australia.