Turns out banning phones in schools isn’t the magic fix many had hoped for. A new study from the University of Birmingham has found that while excessive phone and social media use can negatively impact students—leading to poorer grades, less exercise, anxiety, and bad sleep—simply banning phones at school doesn’t actually reduce overall screen time in a meaningful way.
In Australia, all state schools and many private schools have strict phone bans, but this UK study—the first of its kind—suggests that these policies alone don’t improve student health or academic performance. Researchers analyzed data from 30 schools and over 1,200 students across England. Some schools had strict bans, while others allowed limited phone use during breaks or in designated areas.
The takeaway? Schools can't solve the problem alone. Senior researcher Miranda Pallan says bans should be part of a bigger effort to help kids cut back on screen time overall. “Restrictive policies on recreational phone use in schools do not lead to better outcomes,” she explains.
So while limiting phone use might help in some ways, it looks like a broader approach—one that involves parents, educators, and students—is needed to really make a difference.
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