Even at Elysee, Phones Are Handed in, Macron Tells French Pupils
Macron said the ban will help students focus as France prepares a new draft law to curb children’s access to social media apps.
- On Tuesday, President Emmanuel Macron visited a school in Mende, France, defending a new high school mobile phone ban implemented on the first day of the academic year, arguing the devices distract students from learning.
- The government fears excessive screen time arrests child development, prompting authorities to extend existing primary and middle school restrictions to high schools, affecting students up to age around 15.
- Students placed phones in numbered storage units mounted on classroom walls; while some pupils accepted the policy, others argued it was "infantilising" in a world where mobile devices have become ubiquitous.
- Macron argued that phones create "addictions and dependencies," citing attention disorders; he requires staff at the Elysee to surrender devices during meetings, saying "we've all been somewhat overwhelmed by this."
- Despite France's top court striking down earlier social media legislation on freedom of expression grounds, the government plans to work on a new draft law banning social media for children under 15.
19 Articles
19 Articles
More than 11 million students came back on Tuesday, September 1. Among the new developments, the ban on mobile phones in high schools. Measures that Emmanuel Macron came to defend in person in Lozère.
In the newly launched school year in France, high school students also have to give up their smartphone – the new measure was a heart project of President Macron after the planned social media ban for under 15-year-olds was overturned for the time being.
They are 2,300,000. Most of them are between 15 and 18 years old and they were used to using their mobile phones in high school. From now on, it is forbidden in the classrooms, but also in the corridors and recreation classes. The law was promulgated last week by Emmanuel Macron. Adherence to the rule could be complicated. The institutions have had to adapt their organization in emergency. The aim is to preserve the mental health of young people…
French President Emmanuel Macron told high school students Tuesday that telephones and social networks are not good for them, according to AFP. France's leader was on a visit to a high school in Mende, South France, where he explained that he supports the prohibition of mobile phones in education units because they distract attention and represent a...
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