Smartphones in classrooms Is a complete ban the way forward? | India News

Hamlet’s existential dilemma — ‘To be or not to be?’ — is finding an echo in Indian schools: banning or banning smartphones in classrooms.With the Chief Minister of Himachal Pradesh Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu With the announcement of a ban on mobile phone use by students in all government and private schools since March and his Karnataka counterpart Siddaramaiah announcing a ban on social media for children under 16 in his budget speech on March 6, concerns over excessive smartphone use and its impact on children’s cognitive abilities have returned to the spotlight.The decisions align with growing global pressure to curb smartphone use in schools amid growing concerns about attention spans, social media addiction and classroom distractions. In the United States, about 35 states have enacted laws requiring public schools to restrict or prohibit mobile phone use by students on campus, with exceptions for students with disabilities who have special education programs. Sweden will implement a nationwide mobile phone ban in all schools from August to improve student safety and learning conditions. The new rules, which will affect children aged seven to 16, will make it mandatory for all schools and after-school clubs to collect students’ phones and keep them until the end of the day.In January 2025, Zhengzhou, the capital of Henan province, became the first Chinese city to implement a law banning the use of mobile phones in primary and secondary schools unless specifically required for educational purposes.Restriction on accessInstead of banning mobile phones for teenagers, some countries are opting to restrict social media. In December, Australia became the first country to ban certain social media platforms for teenagers under 16, while Indonesia announced a decision to ban access to “high-risk” platforms for under-16s from March 28.France’s National Assembly has endorsed a similar plan for children under 15 Poland is also planning to introduce a law to ban children under 15 from accessing social media, with tech companies directly responsible for age verification.Calls for such action are gathering steam in India as well, with recent economic surveys. After Karnataka, the Andhra Pradesh government has announced plans to curb social media access for under-13s within 90 days and will consider extending the ban to under-16s. Goa has also constituted a panel to investigate what such a ban could look like and how it could be implemented.Smartphone usage rulesIndia is yet to formulate a national policy or a specific law on access to social media apps and use of smartphones in educational institutions. However, calls for regulation of smartphone use are increasing. The matter reached the Delhi High Court last year, but it refused to order a complete ban as impractical and undesirable. Instead, the court issued guidelines to regulate and monitor the use of smartphones.The reasons for concern are obvious, says Jyoti Arora, principal of Delhi-based Mount Abu School, adding that while mobile phones can be great tools for learning, communication and accessing digital resources, distraction remains a concern. “Almost every day, many parents in our office are inundated with allegations of games, social media and constant notifications distracting their children from studies. Many of them started complaining of eye strain and poor posture,” says Arora.

Academic performanceHe linked the excessive use of smartphones to the decline in academic performance of students. “We’ve also seen a drop in students’ academic performance if they’re too glued to the screen. An even bigger concern is exposure to cyber risks, such as online bullying and access to inappropriate content.”A 2023 UNESCO The report* shows that the mere presence of mobile devices distracts students and negatively impacts education in 14 countries. It cites research studies that “banning cell phones from schools improves academic performance, especially for low-performing students.”Finding a solutionDLF Foundation School and Scholarship Program Chairperson Amita Mulla Watal said the word ‘ban’ has never helped anyone, especially in the school system. “No bullying is okay, especially for teenagers. The learning ecosystem has become so technology-integrated that even in a classroom, platforms like Whats-App, Instagram and games are all accessible. Students are very good at finding solutions,” she says. The Covid-19 pandemic, which has seen education systems around the world shift online, has deepened this integration, with everything from classes to parent-teacher conferences being conducted remotely.Watal, who is also a former long-term principal of Springdales School in Delhi, says the real issue is not the device, but teaching responsible digital use and focus. “There are many WhatsApp groups that teachers use to share resources, homework, and discussion topics. The parent community is also on WhatsApp groups, getting notices and updates from the school. Many students come by other means of transport or go for personal coaching later. A phone, therefore, becomes important for communication,” he added.A holistic approach is neededFinding a middle ground takes time, Wattal stresses, a process that requires dialogue between teachers, parents and students.A team of University of Birmingham researchers came to a similar conclusion in a February 2025 survey of 1,227 students across the UK. Bans in isolation, the study argues, are not enough to combat the negative effects, and it calls for a more holistic approach to reducing phone use among students.Some schools in India are using lockers or sealed pouches to keep phones away from students during lessons, while others require formal requests to be submitted in exceptional cases. Arora said her school does not allow students to bring in cell phones, without specific written request from parents, if they need to use the phone after school hours.Students deposit their phones in the morning and take them when they leave. However, allowing students to use smartphones during school hours may not be possible anytime soon. “We need to have more talks, discussions and workshops on digital ethics before we give permission. We are doing our bit by inviting experts to discuss cyber threats or even the need for a digital detox,” he added.The Delhi High Court judgment in March also directed that schools must educate students about responsible online behavior, digital behavior and ethical use of smartphones. Students should be advised that high levels of screen time and social media engagement can lead to anxiety, attention loss and cyberbullying, the court added.However, schools are only one part of the equation, Arora stressed. “Lessons on responsible phone use and digital ethics must be taught at home, with parents sharing the same responsibility as teachers.”*UNESCO Research: Technology in Education: https://www.unesco.org/ gem-report/en/publication/ technology**UK Study: School bans alone not enough to tackle negative impacts of phone and social media use: https://www.birmingham.ac.uk/ news/2025/school-bans-alone-notenough-to-tackle-negative-impactsPhone-and-social-media-use