Sep 10, 2026
France's Constitutional Council ruled against legislation that would have banned social media for children under 15, citing infringement on freedom of expression. The law, backed by President Emmanuel Macron and approved by lawmakers in July, was France's first attempt at such a ban in Europe.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced plans to limit young children's access to social media across the EU's 27 member states, following recommendations from an expert panel that called for restricting access for those under 13 until tech companies prove their platforms are safe.
The Canadian government introduced digital safety legislation on Wednesday that would restrict social media access for children under 16, with exemptions for platforms meeting certain safety standards. The move follows Australia's enactment of the world's first social media ban for young people and comes ahead of next week's G7 summit.
Malaysia's communications regulator has started enforcing new rules barring children under 16 from registering social media accounts, joining a growing global movement to protect minors from harmful online content.