#mobile-phone-ban

#mobile-phone-ban

A ban on students using mobile phones during the school day has been backed by the House of Lords. A Tory amendment to the Children's Wellbeing and Schools Bill passed with 178 votes to 140, and comes just weeks after opposition peers supported legislation to ban under-16s in the UK from social media platforms. Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson has previously advised schools that they should be phone-free during school hours, but the guidance lacks legal force.

The AFP news agency said it had seen a draft law, backed by President Emmanuel Macron, which cites numerous studies showing the risks to young people from excessive use of digital screens. French media said the law could be submitted for legal scrutiny in early January, while AFP said the ban could take effect as early as September. Le Monde newspaper said Macron may announce the plans in his live New Year's Eve address on Wednesday.