French Constitutional Council validates high school phone ban while striking down social media law for under-15s

France's Constitutional Council made a distinction between digital rules for different age groups. The body struck down the core of a new law intended to ban social media platforms for those under 15. However, it did validate the extension of an existing phone ban to high school students. This extension applies to pupils who were already subject to restrictions during primary and middle school years. The council's decision highlighted that the existing prohibition on phones was treated differently from the new social media legislation. On the first day of school across France, these regulations remain active for high schoolers. Over in the US last week, state attorneys general forced Meta to curtail screen time for teens. Meta agreed to settle a case for $17 billion. The parent group of Instagram and Facebook avoided having its boss, Mark Zuckerberg, answer questions under oath about his products encouraging addiction. While the French government moves toward stricter digital discipline in high schools, similar enforcement actions are occurring elsewhere globally.