The French government has banned the use of mobile phones by children under 15 years of age, in accordance with the commitments of French President Emmanuel Macron.
The government has expressed concern about the frequency of mobile phone use by students, as it believes it is becoming an addiction and at the same time distracting them from their daily activities. Thus, in the new school year, young students will no longer be able to use their mobile phones throughout their stay in school premises.
This new law came into effect on August 5 and does not only apply to mobile phones, but also to tablets and smartwatches. It comes as an “extension” of an existing 2010 law that banned the use of mobile phones in classrooms and now extends to break and meal times. Schools in the country have the freedom to choose whether to apply this new law to students over the age of 15 if deemed necessary.
Students will now be required to turn off their mobile phones or even lock them in their lockers if possible. Schools are responsible for implementing the law.
French Education Minister Jean-Michel Blanquer described the move as "a law for the 21st century" and said it would improve the discipline of the country's 12 million students.
