France Pushes High School Phone Ban Despite Warnings That Schools Aren’t Ready

The French government said Monday it will move ahead with a ban on mobile phone use in high schools from next month, despite warnings from trade unions that schools may not be prepared to implement the measure so quickly. The decision forms part of President Emmanuel Macron’s broader effort to reduce children’s exposure to screens, which his government says can have negative consequences for their development and wellbeing.

France’s parliament approved legislation in July that included two major measures aimed at limiting young people’s use of digital technology. The legislation sought to prohibit children under 15 from accessing social media platforms and also introduced restrictions on mobile phone use in high schools. The measures were presented as part of a wider push to create a healthier environment for children and teenagers by reducing their dependence on smartphones and social media.

However, the legislation suffered a major setback earlier this month when France’s Constitutional Council struck down the provision concerning social media access for children under 15. The ruling removed the most prominent element of the government’s effort to restrict young people’s online activity. The court did not, however, rule on the separate provision concerning mobile phones in high schools, leaving that part of the legislation intact.

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The government has therefore decided to proceed with the school phone ban. Government spokesperson Maud Bregeon said Monday that Macron had decided to promulgate the law containing the measure. Her comments confirmed that the administration would implement the restriction despite the Constitutional Council’s decision to reject the legislation’s flagship social media provision.

The planned ban has nevertheless raised practical concerns among education workers and trade unions. Schools will need to establish how phones are collected, stored or otherwise kept out of students’ possession during the school day. Questions could also arise over how individual schools will enforce the rules and respond when students refuse to comply. Trade unions have warned that educational institutions may not have enough time or resources to prepare adequately before the measure comes into effect next month.

The phone restriction is part of Macron’s wider campaign to address what the government views as excessive screen use among children and teenagers. French authorities have increasingly focused on the impact of smartphones and social media on young people, with concerns ranging from excessive screen time to the broader effects of digital platforms on children’s development. The government argues that limiting access during school hours could help students concentrate more fully on their education and reduce distractions in classrooms.

The decision to proceed with the high school phone ban while abandoning the social media restriction represents a narrower version of the government’s original plan. While the Constitutional Council’s ruling has prevented France from implementing the under-15 social media measure, the separate mobile phone provision remains on course. Schools and teachers will now face the task of putting the policy into practice, with unions warning that the short preparation period could make implementation difficult when the new academic year begins.

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