French court blocks social media ban for under-15s

A French court has blocked an attempt to ban social media use for people younger than 15. According to reports, the ruling could carry far-reaching implications for the broader debate about children's rights to access the internet, potentially serving as a reference point for similar disputes elsewhere.

A wider trend

The decision comes as politicians in various places increasingly move to restrict teenagers' access to popular social media apps, hoping to reduce potential harm to young people's wellbeing. However, this approach is facing growing pushback.

Experts and rights advocates have raised concerns both about how effective such bans actually are at achieving their stated goals, and about the unintended consequences they might create — such as pushing young users toward less-regulated platforms or other workarounds.

The French court's stance therefore fits into a broader European conversation about how to balance protecting children online with preserving their right to freely access the digital world. The issue has become increasingly prominent in several European countries recently, as lawmakers search for ways to regulate young people's access to social media without imposing excessive restrictions. The debate is expected to continue, as similar proposals are being discussed in other countries as well.