In 2024, Canada’s school phone ban expanded from Ontario (back in 2019) to cover most provinces. But is it working? We take a look at some of the feedback in Ontario.
Category Archives: School
When children first started getting smartphones a decade ago, there was no research on their impact. Today, smartphones are inescapable. According to Ofcom, 98% of children between 16 and 17 years old own a smartphone in the UK, almost 50% of under-13s are now on social media, and 90% of children own a mobile phone by the time they reach 11.
Debates over mobile phones in schools have exploded in recent years. As of 2022, almost 1 in 4 countries introduced laws, policies or guidelines that either mandate or advise schools to ban smartphones during the school day.
Amidst Kier Starmer’s recent controversy and allegations regarding his conduct in the ‘grooming gangs’ scandal, the Tories have challenged the Prime Minister to prove he is serious about improving the wellbeing and education of children by accepting their amendments to this bill. The Labour government are presenting the bill to a committee, but it’s understood […]
Navigating the mobile phone ban in UK schools sparks debate over student focus and technology’s role in education; what are the potential consequences?
There is some contention across Europe on the approach to banning mobile phones and smart devices from the classroom. We take a look at what’s causing people to stay on the fence. Back in 2021, Australia’s Queensland began rolling out mobile phones bans in schools, followed in 2023 by South Australia and New South Wales. […]
Following a ban in French-speaking schools in Germany, from the start of the 2025 school year, the use of smartphones, smart watches and other connected devices will be banned in all primary and secondary schools in Belgium’s German-speaking community too. We recently covered the news that Belgium were implementing a complete ban on mobile phones […]
Channel 4’s new documentary SWIPED has taken the country by storm as it investigates young people’s relationships with technology and conducts experiments to try and grasp how much these devices are really endangering our children.
Mobile phone policies in Croatian schools vary greatly, with many institutions opting for complete bans to mitigate distractions. Teachers, especially in specialized subjects, notably support stricter mobile regulations. While mobile phones can enhance digital literacy and student engagement through access to resources, they also pose considerable distractions. Student opinions on bans differ by age, with older students more resistant. Comparative European measures, […]
Norwegian schools have implemented structured phone restrictions to improve student engagement and reduce distractions. Recommendations from the Norwegian Directorate for Education and Training advocate for regulation of mobile phone and smartwatch use, especially during lessons and breaks in primary and secondary schools. Currently, over 96% of primary and junior high schools and 64% of secondary schools have such restrictions. These […]