In this digital age, spending too much time on screens has become one of the biggest health concerns, especially among young teens. It is actually hampering their physical development, mental stability and the time they usually spend outdoors. Education departments and governments all over the world are looking for ways to tackle this global problem.
Other initiatives aimed at helping people overcome screen addiction include holding workshops on how to reduce screen time, as evidenced by the rise of terms such as “digital detox”, “screen fast”, “unplugging” and “disconnecting from the digital realm”. These initiatives highlight the growing recognition of the need to strike a balance between technology and a healthy lifestyle. Now, France is going to ban the use of smartphones in school for students up to the age of 15, in order to give children a “digital break”.
According to a French government release, the ban will apply to the use of mobile phones and other electronic communication terminal devices (for example tablets or smart watches) in schools and colleges.
The law also allows the high school board of directors to ban the use of these devices by high school students in internal regulations. This ban is valid during school and extracurricular time. It is also effective during all school activities held outside the school or educational institution.
However, the law also provides some exceptions. Students with a disability or disabling health condition have the right to use medical devices connected to communication devices (for example, devices allowing children with diabetes to manage their blood sugar levels).
With regard to conditional prohibitions, the law allows for the determination of circumstances, particularly in educational uses and locations where internal rules explicitly authorise the use of mobile phones by students. These are in fact cumulative conditions, internal rules have to specify both circumstances and locations.
