Schools Across Europe Prepared to Enforce Smartphone Ban in Classrooms for Students Below 15 Years of Age
Phone Addiction in Class: The EU's Crusade Against Tech Distraction
The relentless tap-tap of smartphones in classrooms across Europe is ruining student focus and performance, and it's time to take action. This heated issue is no longer just a classroom concern, but a political battleground. European Parliament members from the Greens group are urging the European Commission to enact a ban on smartphones for students aged 6 to 15 in schools. And it seems the Commission is prepared to oblige.
"The Commission is gathering data from across the EU on the impact of mobile phone bans in schools," explains Glenn Micallef, European Commissioner for Education and Youth. By the end of 2025, Brussels aims to make a decision on the matter, but the Commission seems determined to tighten the rules on smartphones in schools due to the harmful effects of digital distractions and excessive screen time.
The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) provides compelling evidence supporting the ban. More than six out of ten students (65%) confess to losing focus during lessons due to their phones, while nearly six out of ten (59%) are distracted by classmates who are elsewhere while the teacher is instructing. Notably, those who admit to being distracted often score lower grades, particularly in scientific subjects. This raises concerns for the EU, as it seeks specialized workers to drive the green and digital transition outlined in the Green Deal.
The Commission doesn't have exclusive authority over education, but it can still push for change by supporting, coordinating, or supplementing Member States' actions. In light of this, talks are circulating about stricter mobile phone policies in schools. Moreover, Micallef announces that the European Commission will investigate the impact of prolonged screen time on mental health and well-being, offering further support for the anti-smartphone measures in schools.
Schools across the globe have already seen the positive impact of mobile phone bans. In New York City and Virginia, academic performance and extracurricular participation bounced back to pre-pandemic levels post-ban, alongside improved classroom behavior. However, implementing such policies successfully demands training educators to enforce rules properly and involving students in creating boundaries, such as using locked pouches or designated usage zones.
While the EU Commission's stance on mobile phone bans in schools remains to be seen, the OECD's recommendations and national-level implementations offer valuable insights. The OECD suggests banning phones to minimize classroom distractions, aligning with research showing that smartphones diminish focus during lectures and correlate with lower academic performance. But not all research supports the ban, with some studies claiming that restrictions alone fail to reduce screen time or teach responsible use.
Whether the EU ban on mobile phones in schools materializes, the debate is undoubtedly a critical step in addressing the issue of tech distraction in education. As Micallef herself puts it, "By the end of 2025, we should be in a position to make a decision on the matter, and our goal is to help students succeed academically by minimizing digital distractions."
- The Commission is gathering data from across Europe to analyze the impact of mobile phone bans in schools.
- Glenn Micallef, European Commissioner for Education and Youth, announced that the Commission will investigate the impact of prolonged screen time on mental health and well-being.
- Schools in New York City and Virginia have seen academic performance and extracurricular participation improve after implementing mobile phone bans.
- European Parliament members from the Greens group urged the Commission to enact a ban on smartphones for students aged 6 to 15 in schools due to distractions and the harmful effects of digital distractions and excessive screen time.
- The OECD provides evidence supporting the ban on mobile phones in schools, citing that more than six out of ten students are often distracted during lessons due to their phones.
