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Are Phones Hurting Our Kids? France and the UK Say Enough is Enough

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Starting in September 2025, a pilot program in schools will focus on enhancing student engagement in learning. In parallel, legislation has been introduced to address school mobile phone use in the UK.

The French government is considering a nationwide policy to limit smartphone use in schools, driven by growing concerns about the negative impacts of technology on children and teenagers. Many are closely watching whether such measures will be effective.

According to a Sunday report by Le Monde, Alexandre Portier, the Minister for Academic Achievement at the Ministry of Education, hopes to implement a digital break initiative across schools by the start of the school year in September 2025.

Portier has emphasized, “We are currently facing a national crisis,” adding, “We have the responsibility to safeguard the health of our youth.” 

The digital break initiative refers to policies implemented by the French Ministry of Education, which physically prohibits smartphone use in approximately 200 middle schools starting this September. 

Some schools are already piloting this program by providing designated lockers where students must deposit their smartphones upon arrival and retrieve them at the end of the day. 

Since 2018, France has allowed students to possess smartphones but has prohibited their use during school hours; however, enforcement of this policy has been inconsistent.

Portier remarked, “We are receiving positive feedback from schools involved in the digital break pilot program,” noting, “It effectively enables students to engage in their learning fully.” 

Meanwhile, the UK has introduced a bill to formalize these efforts and restrict mobile phone use in schools.

According to a BBC report on October 15, the UK government issued guidance earlier this year for schools to prohibit or limit mobile phone use, with many districts already implementing these recommendations. Labour MP Josh MacAlister has proposed the Safer Phones Act to the House of Commons to ensure all schools become mobile-free zones.

This proposed legislation would also raise the age at which online companies, including social media platforms, can obtain consent for children’s data without parental permission from 13 to 16. It also aims to strengthen regulatory powers to protect children from exposure to addictive apps and services. 

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