France’s Constitutional Council struck down the country’s planned ban on social media for children under 15 on August 14, 2026, blocking one of Europe’s most ambitious attempts to regulate children’s online lives.

The law would have required social media platforms to verify users’ ages and obtain parental consent before allowing under-15s to open accounts. Supporters argued it was necessary to protect children from addictive design, harmful content and mental-health risks linked to heavy social media use.

The Constitutional Council, France’s top constitutional court, found the measure incompatible with constitutional protections, halting its implementation. The ruling means the ban cannot take effect in its current form.

The decision is a setback for the French government’s push to lead on child online safety. France had positioned the measure as part of a broader European debate over age limits, screen time and platform accountability.

Supporters of the law may now seek a revised version that addresses the court’s objections, while platforms operating in France continue under existing EU digital rules. The ruling will be closely watched across Europe, where several countries are weighing similar age restrictions.