On August 14, 2026, France's Constitutional Council ruled that a provision banning children under the age of 15 from accessing social media was unconstitutional.

    The French Parliament had passed the legislation in July to protect children from risks associated with social media, including problematic use, cyberbullying, and exposure to harmful content.While recognizing the importance of protecting children, the Council found that a blanket ban failed to adequately consider children's age, maturity, family circumstances, or the risks associated with different social media services. It concluded that the restriction disproportionately interfered with freedom of expression and communication. Concerns were also raised about privacy protections related to age verification.

Comment from GAME-F

Australia began enforcing social media age restrictions for children under 16 in December 2025, and the United Kingdom is moving toward similar restrictions. In contrast, France ruled that a blanket ban disproportionately restricted freedom of expression and privacy, despite recognizing the importance of protecting children. These developments highlight different national approaches to regulating children's access to social media.

    Protecting children from the risks of social media is important. However, a blanket ban based solely on age may not always be the most appropriate approach.

    How can children's safety be balanced with freedom of expression and privacy? Effective measures should consider children's developmental stages and the characteristics of different platforms, while combining appropriate restrictions with parental support and digital literacy education.

References

French Constitutional Council — Decision No. 2026-911 DC, August 14, 2026

Le Monde — French Government's Social Media Ban for Under-15s Suffers Constitutional Setback, August 14, 2026

Australian eSafety Commissioner — Social Media Age Restrictions