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France to ban mobile phones in high schools
France is set to implement a nationwide ban on mobile phones and other electronic communication devices in high schools, potentially affecting approximately two million students across 3,700 institutions. President Emmanuel Macron announced the decision to promulgate the law, aiming to protect minors from the psychological risks and addictive nature of social media and digital screens.
The ban expands upon existing restrictions that have been in place for students under 15 since 2018. Under the new framework, schools will have the authority to define how devices are managed, such as through personal lockers, classroom collection boxes, or specialized bags. While the ban is intended to be effective by the start of the new school year, some educators and unions, including SNPDEN-UNSA, have expressed concerns regarding the timing, noting that many schools may not have had sufficient time to update their internal regulations during the summer break.
Notably, a separate provision in the original legislation that sought to ban social media access for children under 15 was struck down by the Constitutional Council on the grounds that it infringed upon freedom of expression. Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu has been tasked with drafting a revised version of that specific regulation to meet legal standards by spring 2027.
Entities
Conseil constitutionnel · Constitutional Council · Emmanuel Macron · France · Maud Bregeon · SNPDEN-UNSA · Sébastien Lecornu
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.
- [● 3 SOURCES] The ban on mobile phones in high schools could take effect as early as the start of the next school year. www.dna.fr · www.estrepublicain.fr · www.letelegramme.fr
- [● 3 SOURCES] Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu will consider a new draft regarding social media to address the Constitutional Council's remarks. www.dna.fr · www.estrepublicain.fr · www.letelegramme.fr
- [● 3 SOURCES] President Emmanuel Macron has decided to promulgate the law containing the mobile phone ban. www.dna.fr · www.estrepublicain.fr · www.letelegramme.fr
- [● 3 SOURCES] The Constitutional Council censored the provision banning social media for those under fifteen, citing a disproportionate infringement on freedom of expression. www.dna.fr · www.estrepublicain.fr · www.letelegramme.fr