France is imposing a blanket ban on the use of smartphones and personal tablets by students while they are at school …

The country has already banned use of the devices during lessons, but Engadget reports that the government is now extending the ban throughout the day.

In other words schools will be allowed to permit usage for specific learning-related tasks, or when a child has special needs.

There has been growing concern in France that too much usage of smartphones and tablets is creating problems ranging from sleep disruption to cyber-bullying.

It’s not just in schools where France is getting tough on smartphones: the country has also banned their use by drivers even when the car is stationary and the engine switched off.

Photo: FT