How effective are smartphone bans in schools?
Restrictions on smartphone use in schools are increasingly being linked to healthier social behavior, better concentration and lower levels of bullying among children, as educators and researchers around the world report positive early results from phone bans, Qazinform News Agency correspondent reports.
A recent study by researchers from Stanford University, Duke University, University of Michigan and University of Pennsylvania examined data from about 4,600 US schools. Published by the National Bureau of Economic Research, the study found that strict phone restrictions sharply reduced phone use during the school day and improved teacher satisfaction with school phone policies.
Researchers said schools adopting the restrictions often experienced an initial adjustment period, but over time student well-being improved and disciplinary effects faded.
The study found little overall impact on academic test scores, though results differed by age group. Still, researchers concluded that phone bans meaningfully reduced digital distractions during the school day and changed student behavior in noticeable ways.
According to the Finnish Broadcasting Company Yle, in Finland, where schools gained the authority last year to ban or limit smartphone use during the school day, principals and students say the changes have transformed daily life in classrooms and hallways.
At Linnainmaa School in Tampere, phones were banned during indoor breaks beginning in 2025. Students say the restrictions quickly encouraged more face-to-face interaction, physical activity and studying during free time.
Instead of scrolling through social media, students now spend breaks playing ping-pong, card games and board games, while others use the time to review for exams or complete homework.
School principal Ilona Pasma said students talk to each other more often and lessons begin more smoothly because teachers spend less time asking students to put their phones away.
Similar experiences have been reported in schools across Finland. Principals interviewed by Yle said students are greeting each other more frequently, spending less time isolated and engaging more with classmates.
Educators also reported a decline in bullying linked to social media and secret photography.
Canada has also pointed to the potential benefits of limiting screen time among children and teenagers.
A 2026 longitudinal study based on data from the Canadian Health Survey on Children and Youth found that young people who followed screen time recommendations were more likely to report better mental health, lower stress levels, higher life satisfaction and better academic performance than those who exceeded recommended limits.
The study also found that youth who spent less time on screens were less likely to report sleep difficulties, headaches and suicidal thoughts.
Earlier, Qazinform News Agency reported that Kazakhstan considered giving the Ministry of Enlightenment the authority to ban smartphones in schools.
