France to ban mobile phones in high schools

French President Emmanuel Macron announced on X that he is implementing a law banning mobile phones in high schools starting with the next academic year. This decision comes as part of a broader effort to protect children from the potential risks associated with social media use. According to government spokesperson Maud Bregeon, the ban could be enforced as early as the new school year.

The legislation, which was passed on July 21, aimed to prohibit children under 15 from using social media platforms. However, this particular provision was blocked by the Constitutional Council. Despite this setback, Bregeon confirmed that the mobile phone ban in high schools would still be implemented under a "stable, consolidated and legislative" legal framework.

Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu is currently working on a revised version of the social media provisions, taking into account the concerns raised by the Constitutional Council. The government's goal is to establish a revised legal framework that effectively safeguards children and young people, with the aim of having this in place by next spring.