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Implementation of mobile phone bans in French schools

Updated 12 times since CLSTR started tracking revisions of this situation.

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2026-09-05 08:08 UTC → 2026-09-10 16:51 UTC · added ~~removed~~

Following the start of the 2026/2027 school year, France has implemented its ban on mobile phones and smartwatches in high schools (lycées) for students aged 15 to 18. Supported by President Emmanuel Macron, the policy aims to reduce digital distractions and protect students from digital risks. While schools maintain autonomy over enforcement—deciding whether devices must remain in bags or not be brought to campus at all—the overarching goal is to limit screen time and social media exposure. In the Haute-Savoie region, the departmental council has invested 750,000 euros into the “Portable en pause” initiative. This project provides approximately 44,000 students with anti-wave pouches designed by Naotic, which function as Faraday cages to block Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and mobile signals. However, the measure has faced immediate criticism as students have reportedly found ways to bypass the magnetic closures. Implementation has proven uneven across the country. A survey by the SNPDEN-Unsa union indicates that only 24% of school principals have updated their internal regulations to include the ban and its associated sanctions. While some institutions, such as Saint-Joseph College in Caen, are utilizing signal-blocking pouches, others are still navigating the consultation processes required to amend internal rules. Legal exceptions remain for students with disabilities or health conditions requiring connected ~~devices,~~ devices—such as smart glucose sensors or hearing aids—as well as specific pedagogical uses authorized by teachers. Despite the rollout, some students have expressed concerns regarding the ability to communicate with parents and the loss of digital tools for school-related information. ~~Educators and unions continue to highlight the difficulty of rapid implementation due to the necessity of amending internal regulations through consultation processes.~~

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