WHY SOME EXPERTS WANT PHONES BANNED IN SCHOOLS
WHY SOME EXPERTS WANT PHONES BANNED IN SCHOOLS Imagine a classroom where the teacher is explaining an important lesson, but several students are secretly checking WhatsApp, TikTok, Instagram, games or notifications. The problem may not be that the students are not intelligent. Their attention is simply being pulled in too many directions. That is one reason phone restrictions in schools are spreading rapidly around the world. UNESCO reported in 2026 that 114 education systems—58% of countries worldwide—now have national restrictions or bans on mobile phones in schools. So why are educators and experts concerned? 1. Phones can destroy concentration Even when a student isn't actively using a phone, its presence or incoming notifications can become a distraction. Research reviewed by UNESCO found that smartphone use can interfere with learning and reduce students' ability to stay focused. 2. Social media competes with the classroom A lesson about mathematics, science or...