Phone bans in schools can be divisive. Some parents (raises hand) don’t want to see kids’ devices taken away during school hours for safety reasons. Meanwhile, many educators are in favor of an outright ban as they seek to gain more control and encourage engagement in the classroom. No matter your stance on the issue, we know that many young people’s mental health is suffering due to an unhealthy phone obsession. Specifically, social media can be to blame for increased depression and anxiety among teens. Now, a new study looks at the impact of phone bans in schools—and the findings suggest these policies may not be as effective as believed.
What the Phone Ban Study Reveals
Published in The Lancet, the study, which was conducted in the United Kingdom, looked at 1,227 students, ages 12-15, across 30 schools.2 Some of those schools allow phone use, and some don’t. Surprisingly, the results showed that improved mental well-being and school performance is not linked to banning phones in schools. Going on students’ self reports, researchers observed no difference among students’ health and well-being in schools that permit phones versus those that don’t. Study participants did not exercise or sleep more, or exhibit better classroom behavior when phones were not allowed during school hours. And students’ overall time spent on devices was also seemingly not impacted. Importantly, increased time spent on phones was associated with poorer mental health, per the study. Study author Victoria Goodyear, PhD, told the BBC that the study is not advocating for phones to be allowed in schools, but rather, “what we’re suggesting is that those bans in isolation are not enough to tackle the negative impacts.”
What The Study Means For Kids and Phone Use
The study highlights the complexities surrounding smartphone use among adolescents, says Stacy Thiry, a licensed mental health counselor at Grow Therapy. Although created with the best of intentions, school phone bans, “might inadvertently cause students to increase their phone use outside of school hours, negating any potential benefits,” says Thiry. This would explain why researchers did not see a dip in hours logged on phones of students who attend schools where devices are banned. As Jack Winston, CEO of BePresent, a digital wellness company, tells Parents, “We are still at the very beginning of understanding how to properly instill healthy digital habits in kids, or even understanding what exactly healthy digital habits are in the first place.” He adds, “We know phone bans are only part of the equation because kids will get their devices back at the end of the day.” In his view, if phone bans aren’t combined with digital wellness efforts outside of school, the measures in the classroom will have minimal impact. Thiry agrees, saying, the study “underscores the importance of a balanced approach to technology use, both in educational settings and at home.” She stresses that school administrators and families collaborating to instill responsible phone habits in kids is key.
Kristen Miller, Director of Education for Celebree School, shares that phone bans in schools are ineffective if not combined with efforts to educate today’s kids about healthy offline relationships. “Whether or not phones are restricted at school, teaching kids’ empathy, encouraging face-to-face interactions, and helping them develop strong social skills from a young age will help them form meaningful connections that can reduce the overuse of screens and social media,” she says.
Instilling Healthy Phone Habits in Kids
The experts offer several tips for helping kids develop digital wellness outside of school.
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- Be open with kids about online use. Families should engage in regular conversations about screen-time experiences. “Help teens understand the impact of social media, digital comparison, and persuasive design that keeps them scrolling,” Winston recommends. Parents should remind kids to speak up when they encounter questionable content online, such as cyberbullying.
- Know what apps they use. “Understanding the platforms kids use and the content they consume can help you guide them toward positive digital interactions,” says Thiry.
- Set boundaries. From enforcing rules about what social platforms you permit kids to engage with, to times of day phone use is OK, Thiry says establishing clear guidelines around phones promotes family bonding and overall digital wellness.
- Model healthy tech habits. Since kids learn by example, Winston notes that telling kids to put down their phones is futile if parents don’t do the same.
- Promote offline activities. Whether it’s a sport or a hobby, experts agree that kids will be more likely to stay off screens if they are engaged in activities that don’t involve devices. Families should also spend time together doing things they enjoy without screens.
- Use parental controls. “Many devices offer settings that allow you to monitor and limit screen time, ensuring that your child’s digital consumption aligns with your family’s values,” Thiry says.
- Keep tabs on kids’ emotional wellness around tech. If you notice your child acting irritable or upset after engaging with their phone, it’s time to reevaluate what apps they are using, and how much they are online, according to Thiry.
Finally, Miller stresses that parents should be focusing on kids’ relationships offline to maximize their overall health and well-being. From teaching empathy for others early on, to growing kids’ confidence in social settings, she says we can’t forget to foster friendships in real life, despite the undeniable necessity of technology in our modern world.
Read the full article on Parents.