France to Tighten Mobile Phone Ban in Middle Schools from September, Enforcing ‘Digital Pause’ for Students

Paris, April 10, 2025 — France is set to significantly strengthen its mobile phone restrictions in middle schools, mandating that all students aged 11 to 15 place their devices in a secure locker or locked pouch at the start of the school day, regaining access only at dismissal. The new rule will come into effect nationwide from September.

Education Minister Élisabeth Borne told the French Senate that the government intends to fully separate students from their mobile phones during school hours in an effort to improve well-being, academic focus, and social interaction.

“At a time when the use of screens is being widely questioned because of its many harmful effects, this measure is essential for our children’s wellbeing and success at school,” Borne said.

France had already implemented a ban in 2018 prohibiting the use of mobile phones across collèges (middle schools), including during break times. Under that rule, students were required to keep phones switched off and stored in their bags throughout the day. While schools reported noticeable improvements in concentration, social behaviour, and physical activity, instances of covert phone use—particularly in restrooms—persisted.

The government’s revised approach introduces a stricter model: a complete “digital pause” during school hours. The policy was piloted in approximately 100 middle schools over the past six months. Under the trial, students relinquished their phones upon arrival, storing them in lockers, secure boxes, or specialized locking pouches. These pouches can only be electronically unlocked at the school gates at day’s end.

Feedback from the pilot program has been overwhelmingly positive, according to the minister. “All the feedback from the trial is positive, namely on improving the atmosphere in schools, and there has been massive support from parents and teachers,” Borne noted.

While some teaching unions have raised concerns over costs and logistical implementation, Borne clarified that headteachers would be given autonomy to choose the format best suited to their institutions—whether lockers or digital pouches. “The cost is modest—no more than a few thousand euros per school,” she assured.

Devices are already banned in French primary schools, and this latest initiative reinforces the country’s wider effort to curb screen time among minors. Borne cited a recent study by the French National Book Council to underscore the urgency of the issue: “A young person now spends on average five hours a day in front of a screen, but they only spend three hours a week with a book… Not only is reading going down, but for those who do read, half of them are doing something else on their phone at the same time. All that is damaging to students’ success.”

The government’s stance follows recommendations from a 2023 expert report commissioned by President Emmanuel Macron. The report advised that children should not own a mobile phone before age 11 and should only have access to internet-free handsets until age 13. It also recommended banning access to social media platforms such as TikTok, Instagram, and Snapchat until the age of 18.

President Macron has publicly supported these findings, advocating for tighter controls on children’s exposure to screens.

The announcement comes amid growing global concern over the impact of mobile phone use on child development. In the UK, the head of England’s largest teaching union recently called for a statutory nationwide ban on phones in schools. A recent survey found that 99.8% of primary schools and 90% of secondary schools in England already enforce some level of restriction.

France’s policy shift now positions it at the forefront of Europe’s push to protect children from the potential harms of digital overexposure within the educational environment.