While smartphones prove to be a powerful educational, safety, communication, and organizational tool within schools, it also raises concerns about distraction, academic integrity, cyberbullying, and social isolation among students. This is why, schools all around the world are deliberating different policies to tackle the negative consequences of cell phones for the youth of all ages.
This blog outlines different cell phone policies implemented by various countries across the globe, the rationale behind it, as well as the results of these unique policies.
Cellphones being ubiquitous in everyone’s life is hard to shelve. However, restricting cellphone use within schools helps students focus on educational content with less distraction. Students also tend to engage more with teachers and better remember the lesson when there is decreased multitasking. According to the research conducted by UCLA Health (2024), greater use of cellphones in the classroom also decreases social interaction among students and limits the development of their social skills.
As rightfully said by Marc Prensky, an internationally acclaimed writer of education:
Besides, with a lack of cellphone policies, students tend to engage more in cyberbullying, cheating during exams, and disclosing school incidents on social media. This can severely harm the institute’s sense of community and may also have negative consequences for students’ mental health.
Some of the schools have taken the stand of entirely banning cell phones within the premises of the institution. These schools have come to the conclusion that the cons of allowing cell phones inside the schools simply outweigh the pros. Students are not allowed to bring their phones with them and are reprimanded if they do so.
On the other hand, some schools take on a restrictive approach, allowing cell phones in schools but limiting their use during lessons, allowing them to use their phones during break hours or for communication purposes.
Meanwhile, some schools consider smartphones as important learning tools and rely greatly on them with regard to their curriculum. Students tend to use their phones for virtual classes, presentations, assignments, homework, research, notes-making, and communicating with their teachers and classmates.
Here are some of the prominent cellphone policies that have come to light:
The primary and secondary schools of France completely banned the use of phones in the year 2018. This decision was revisited in 2021; however, the administration reaffirmed the decision to ban cellphone use in schools. This policy proved extremely beneficial for French students as teachers observed increased focus, minimized incidents of cyberbullying, and more social bonding among students. The same policy was implemented in other European countries like Italy and Spain, which also observed the same benefits as that of France, as reported by El Pais in the January newsletter (2024).
In the USA, cellphone policies are much more diverse than any other country. These policies differ from state to state, where every school tends to take on a different approach. For example, the schools in Chicago and Los Angeles encourage students to use applications and online resources. This BYOD (bring your own device) policy proved to be helpful in facilitating student learning and also enhanced students’ creativity and communication.
However, According to a UNESCO report (2023), the BYOD policy has a major downside of increasing student distraction and decreasing focus on the task at hand. The policy also highlights socio-economic inequality in class, since many students cannot afford to buy the latest technology. Besides, as both students and staff try to connect using the same network, it may lead to slower network speed which becomes frustrating for everyone.
On the other hand, other US states like Indiana, California, Florida, Wisconsin, and Tennessee allow students to bring their phones to schools but lock them either in lockers or Yondr pouches during study hours. These neoprene pouches are unlocked by a special magnetic key by teachers at the end of the day. The rationale of these schools is simple: let students bring their phones for security and social purposes but make sure no compromise is made on academics.
Just like the USA, many cities in the UK have formed their own policies regarding cellphone use. For example, secondary schools in London and Birmingham have a direct ‘no-phone’ policy, where students cannot bring their phones inside the classrooms. According to the UK Department of Education (2024), technology should not jeopardize student education, which is why tactics like locker rooms are needed by every school. The policy proved to be beneficial for many schools as teachers observed more peace and focus inside the classrooms.
Whereas, schools in Manchester and Edinburgh allow cellphone use to older students, but younger students face many restrictions during lessons. This age-based restriction is important because younger students do not adhere to rules as diligently as older students, using phones much more than needed.
Another interesting policy was designed by St. Edward’s College of Liverpool where the administration took a parental stance regarding smartphone use by their children. Parents and administration collectively ruled out regulations regarding safe cellphone usage during school. For example, pupils were allowed to contact their parents only at the start and end of the day, and if anyone did not adhere to the rule, teachers were allowed to confiscate their phones. Also, parents supervising the school trips are not allowed to take photos or contact other parents within the premises of the school.
St. Edward’s College also acknowledged in its 2024 newsletter, that this policy allowed teachers, parents, and students to use their smartphones in the most valuable way possible.
Some provinces in Canada like Ontario believe in integrating students in the decision-making phase of policies. These schools allowed students to develop personalized cellphone policies with more flexible and comfortable guidelines. According to the research conducted by the Center for Trauma Informed Practices (2024), it taught students the importance of digital literacy and responsible cellphone use. It further led to increased social harmony and improved academic performance.
The same approach is followed by many schools in Italy and New Zealand, where students develop “classroom contracts”, improving student adherence to rules.
In 2021, Chinese schools passed a policy in which students can bring their phones inside the school with a signed parental consent. However, students were not allowed to use them during class, limiting the use to only break times.
Other Asian countries like India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Singapore, and Japan sometimes follow the same approach, but mostly impose direct cellphone bans in schools.
While the supporters of a complete ban conclude that limiting cell phones in schools made students more attentive towards lectures and minimized the instances of cheating, bullying, and irresponsible cellphone use, proponents argued that it restricted information flow and potential of students.
In today’s world, we cannot overlook the embedded roots of cell phones in students’ lives. With more and more schools accepting the fact that cell phones play a huge role in academics, clear-cut policies are required to be implemented. Not having sound policies in place would only harm the individual, academic, social, and mental health of students, and may also disrupt the administrative processes of schools.
Institutions can strengthen digital literacy policies This will also teach children how to use their phones more sensibly in their private lives. Nonetheless, with the vast ocean of information, resources, and tools available online, not discussing smartphones, technology and AI at all in the academic world would be unwise.
“Just as we teach our kids to avoid toxic foods, limit snack foods, and focus on healthy foods, we must also teach them to avoid toxic, limit tech junk, and consume healthy technology as part of a balanced life.” - Dr. Shimi Kang, The Tech Solution
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