In a bold move to address the growing concern of "hyper-connectivity" among youth, France is set to implement a trial ban on mobile phones in 200 middle schools across the country. This initiative, scheduled to commence in autumn 2024, requires students to either store their devices in lockers or leave them at the school entrance for the duration of the school day.
Nicole Belloubet, the outgoing education minister, stated that the primary goal of this measure is to provide students with a much-needed "digital break" from their devices. If the trial proves successful, authorities plan to extend the ban nationwide in 2025.
This decision follows a comprehensive report commissioned by President Emmanuel Macron in June 2023, which highlighted the detrimental effects of excessive screen time on children. The report, titled "In Search of Lost Time," was compiled by a team of ten experts from various fields, including neuroscience and psychiatry.
The 142-page document emphasizes the scientific consensus on the harmful consequences of screens on children's and adolescents' health. These negative impacts include:
- Sleep deprivation
- Obesity
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Addiction
- Cyberbullying
- Increased risk of suicide
President Macron emphasized the urgency of addressing this issue, stating, "All the experts say that screen addiction is the breeding ground for all kinds of problems – harassment, violence, dropping out of school."
The report also provides specific recommendations for screen time and device usage based on age:
- No screen time for children under three
- No mobile phones before age 11
- No internet-enabled mobile phones before age 13
- No access to social networks before age 15
These guidelines align with the World Health Organization's recommendation of no screen time for children under two years old. It's worth noting that France has been at the forefront of digital rights legislation in Europe and previously implemented a ban on smartphones in primary and middle schools in 2018.
However, not everyone supports the new measure. David Lelong, a representative of the teachers' union SE-UNSA, expressed skepticism about its effectiveness in reducing cyberbullying, stating, "We are not convinced that cyber bullying between students will decrease with this measure, as we know that the majority of cyber bullying happens after class."
Gregoire Ensel, a spokesman for the Federation of Parents' Councils, raised concerns about the logistical challenges of implementing the ban, particularly in larger schools. He noted, "Imagine 500, 800 students who are entering and leaving the school at the same time, who have to leave and retrieve their phones? That could cause security problems."
As France moves forward with this trial, it joins a global conversation about the impact of technology on young people. With cyberbullying affecting approximately 20% of young people worldwide and the average age for first smartphone ownership around 10 years old, the need for balanced approaches to technology use in education is becoming increasingly apparent.
The success of this trial could have far-reaching implications for educational policies not only in France but potentially across Europe and beyond. As the educational technology market continues to grow, expected to reach $342 billion by 2025, finding the right balance between leveraging digital tools for learning and protecting students from the negative effects of "hyper-connectivity" remains a critical challenge for educators and policymakers alike.