Paris: French President Emmanuel Macron on Monday confirmed the enactment of a law prohibiting cellphones in high schools, starting with the new academic year. "Protecting children from the excesses of screens can no longer wait," Macron stated on US social media platform X. He emphasized that a school environment free from phones would help in reclaiming the serenity essential for learning.

According to Anadolu Agency, government spokesperson Maud Bregeon announced that the ban could be implemented as soon as the new school year commences, following Macron's directive. This legislation, which aims to shield minors from the risks posed by social media, was initially passed on July 21. However, its primary provision, which intended to ban social media for children under 15, faced opposition and was blocked by the Constitutional Council.

Bregeon assured that despite the setback, the cellphone ban in high schools would proceed under a "stable, consolidated and legislative" legal framework. Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu is tasked with drafting a new version of the social media regulations that addresses the concerns raised by the Constitutional Council. The government is committed to establishing a revised legal framework to safeguard children and young people by next spring, Bregeon added.