Ban on Smartphones in School

Ban on Smartphones in School

News: UNESCO’s Global Education Monitoring Report 2023 warns against the uncritical adoption of digital technology in educational settings, as there is little robust evidence of its added value in education.

What is the impact of mobile devices on children’s learning?
• Mobile devices can distract children from their studies and reduce their attention span. A study found that smartphone use and academic achievement were negatively correlated.
• Mobile devices can enable children to cheat on exams or assignments by accessing the internet or communicating with others.
• Mobile devices can expose children to harmful or unsuitable content, such as violence, pornography, cyberbullying, or online predators. This can affect their mental health, emotional development, and moral values.
• Mobile devices can disrupt children’s sleep patterns by emitting blue light that suppresses melatonin, the hormone that regulates sleep.
• Overreliance on virtual communication leads to decreased social skills and communication abilities. 

Key recommendations of report:
• The report endorses banning smartphones in schools when technology integration does not improve learning or worsens student well-being.
• Excessive screen time has been linked to poorer well-being, less curiosity, self-control, emotional stability, and higher anxiety and depression diagnoses in children.
• Advocates for data privacy laws to protect children’s information.