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Excessive use of smartphones has been linked to a number of health problems, but how much impact does it have on students in school? Many countries across the world seem to believe that it has serious negative effects, and as such, bans have been implemented in many places.
A recent study found that extended screen time had an impact on students' sleep, classroom behavior, and levels of exercise, but the impact was no different between schools that allowed phones and those that banned them.
In this gallery, you'll get to know the countries that have banned (or will ban) phones in schools. Click on.
In January 2025, Brazil’s President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva signed a bill restricting the use of phones in schools. The new law will affect students at elementary and high schools.
“We want those devices, as in many other countries, to only be used in class for pedagogical purposes and with a teacher’s guidance,” said Education Minister Camilo Santana.
The European nation hasn't allowed cell phones in primary and secondary schools since 2018.
In 2024, around 200 middle schools implemented a "digital break." The trial ban “gets students used to being without their phones all day and teaching them to live differently even during recess instead of always being on their phones," said Fabien Leroux, a school supervisor.
A new bill that intends to tackle addictive phone use in children has been proposed, which includes a measure to ban smartphones from schools. A second reading of the proposed bill will take place in March 2025.
Non-statutory guidance has also been issued by the Department for Education on how schools should implement phone bans, giving school leaders the power to decide on their policies.
The Netherlands banned the non-educational use of smartphones in primary and secondary schools in 2024.
The ban not only includes smartphones but also smartwatches and tablets. Exemptions apply to students with particular disabilities and those with special education needs.
Italian students are not allowed to use their phones (or tablets) from preschool to secondary school.
“The use of smartphones and tablets can often create tension between students and teachers, sometimes also leading to acts of aggression against school staff,” said Italy's education minister Giuseppe Valditara.
In Spain, only preschools and primary schools are subject to a nationwide phone ban.
Regions have the power to implement their own bans across teaching institutions, and many of them have done so.
In August 2024, Irish Minister for Education Norma Foley announced the ban. “I am now in a space where I’m looking to introduce a ban on mobile phones at post-primary,” she said.
The Irish government plans to spend €9 million (US$9.3 million) on special poaches to store students’ phones in schools.
Phones can only be used in Swedish schools for educational purposes. School officials have power over how this is done.
Sweden’s public health agency has also issued guidance for parents regarding children and teenagers’ screen time.
Belgium's French-speaking regions have banned the recreational use of phones and other electronic devices in schools starting in 2025. Belgium's German-speaking community has followed suit in all primary and secondary schools.
The measure is expected to tackle screen addiction and cyberbullying, as well as “improve students’ focus and have a healthier learning environment,” said the French community’s education minister, Valérie Glatigny.
Greek students must keep their mobile phones inside their bags while at school.
“From distraction to other important issues, it is clear that mobile phones have no place in school during the day,” said Greek Prime Minister Kyriákos Mitsotákis.
From Easter 2025, primary school students will no longer be allowed to use phones. As for secondary school students, they will be required to have “physical distance” between their phones during class.
“I am concerned about the effects of excessive smartphone and social media use on our children,” said Luxembourg’s education minister, Claude Meisch.
In 2024, the Finnish government announced a bill that would ban the use of phones in the classroom. The law is expected to come into force in August 2025.
Individual schools will have the power to implement their own rules regarding how phones can be used during breaks and how they should be stored during the day.
The European country banned phones in schools in 2024. The measure was contested by Hungarians and led to a number of protests.
Thousands gathered in Budapest to protest against the decree. One schoolmaster was forced to resign after refusing to implement the ban, and the president of the teachers' union also heavily criticized the bill.
Starting on May 31, 2025, Latvian students up to grade 6 (preschool and primary school) will not be allowed to use their phones in school.
"These amendments are necessary as a clear signal to the founders of educational institutions to restrict the aimless use of mobile phones, as research shows that the presence of personal mobile phones (even switched off) negatively affects people's cognitive abilities and increases the risk of digital emotional violence," said Agita Zariņa-Stūre (New Unity), Chair of the Education, Culture and Science Commission.
Sources: (Euro News) (BBC) (CNN) (LSM)
See also: How much it costs to run a cell phone around the world
These countries are banning phones in schools
From Europe to South America
LIFESTYLE Education
Excessive use of smartphones has been linked to a number of health problems, but how much impact does it have on students in school? Many countries across the world seem to believe that it has serious negative effects, and as such, bans have been implemented in many places.
A recent study found that extended screen time had an impact on students' sleep, classroom behavior, and levels of exercise, but the impact was no different between schools that allowed phones and those that banned them.
In this gallery, you'll get to know the countries that have banned (or will ban) phones in schools. Click on.