A recent US study finds that strict bans on mobile phones in schools have almost no effect on student learning, attendance, or online bullying. Researchers from universities including Stanford and Duke examined nearly 1,800 secondary schools where students were required to keep their phones in locked pouches during the school day. The study found little to no difference in academic or behavioral outcomes compared to schools without such bans.
Study details and findings
The research, published by the National Bureau of Economic Research, focused on schools that implemented phone bans requiring students to place their phones in magnetic pouches. Over time, the bans led to a significant reduction in phone usage, as confirmed by GPS data analyzed by the researchers. However, this decrease in phone activity did not translate into measurable improvements in student achievement or other outcomes.
- Average effects on standardized test scores were consistently close to zero.
- No significant changes were observed in attendance, classroom attention, or perceived online bullying.
- There were modest positive effects on math scores among older students but negative effects on younger pupils.
- In the first year after a ban, schools saw an increase in suspensions and a decline in students’ wellbeing, but these effects faded over time.
- Wellbeing tended to rebound and become positive in subsequent years following the ban.
Implications for policy and practice
Despite the minimal impact on academic and behavioral outcomes, one of the study’s authors, Professor Thomas Dee of Stanford University, cautioned against abandoning phone bans. He noted that the bans effectively reduce phone usage and that longer experience with these policies may lead to more positive results over time.
In England, policymakers are considering similar restrictions. The UK’s Department for Education recently announced plans to make phone restrictions a statutory requirement in state schools. Currently, over 90% of schools already have some form of phone policy, but the new rules are expected to require phones to be handed in or locked away during the school day.
Private school groups such as the Girls’ Day School Trust have also introduced bans, citing research on the harmful effects of mobile phones and social media, particularly on teenage girls’ mental health and wellbeing.
Additionally, England’s exam regulator has warned students against bringing phones or smartwatches into exam halls, following incidents of disqualification due to unauthorized devices.