A groundbreaking study suggests that smartphone bans in schools do not correlate with improved student grades or mental wellbeing. Researchers from the University of Birmingham analyzed the smartphone policies across 30 secondary schools and their impacts on 1,227 students. The findings indicate that while bans are common, they do not yield the expected benefits on health and educational performance. In contrast, excessive smartphone and social media use was linked to negative outcomes such as poorer mental health and reduced academic performance. The study advocates for a broader approach to managing screen time among students.
Dr Victoria Goodyear, the study's lead author, told the BBC the findings are not "against" smartphone bans in schools, but "what we're suggesting is that those bans in isolation are not enough to tackle the negative impacts".
The paper says schools restricting smartphone use did not seem to be seeing their intended improvements on health, wellbeing and focus in lessons.
The research did find a link between more time on phones and social media, and worse mental wellbeing and mental health, less physical activity, poorer sleep, lower grades and more disruptive classroom behaviour.
We need to do more than just ban phones in schools.
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