Macron Proposes High School Smartphone Ban Amid Mixed Student Reactions

President Emmanuel Macron has renewed his commitment to limiting youth exposure to digital risks by proposing a ban on smartphones in high schools. Announced during a discussion with newspaper readers in Mirecourt, this initiative seeks to complement a new law that also aims to prohibit social media access for those under 15 and introduces a digital curfew for teenagers aged 15 to 18.

Currently, French high schools enforce rules requiring students to switch off and store phones during class, though some educators permit their use for learning purposes, such as calculators in math. At Lycée Gabriel-Fauré in Paris, students voiced varied opinions on the proposal. Salomé, a terminale student, criticized the ban, noting it would further restrict their already brief breaks without clear benefits. First-year student Abdel expressed concerns about difficulty staying in touch with family and jokingly mentioned its impact on cheating. Alicia, a seconde student, described the ban as limiting freedom and hindering educational and personal use of technology. Meanwhile, Wassim cautioned that a strict ban could lead students to bring multiple phones to evade rules, highlighting the central role smartphones play in their daily lives, with some like him reporting around five hours of phone use per day.

President Macron's proposals come as part of a broader effort to protect youth from the dangers of social networks while shaping a lasting legacy amid challenges to his earlier promises. His focus on regulating the "digital jungle" underlines his administration's intention to confront the complex realities of modern digital life for young people in France.