All articles tagged with #smartphone ban
NYC public school students are returning to classrooms under a new smartphone ban, with school staff like James Teal responsible for collecting and securing phones each day to reduce distractions and promote better engagement, despite some students feeling frustrated or disconnected.
South Korea has passed a law banning the use of smartphones and smart devices during classes in elementary and middle schools, effective from 2026, aiming to reduce their harmful influence on students.
New York Governor Kathy Hochul is advocating for a ban on smartphones in schools, allowing only basic phones that can't access the internet. This proposal is part of her broader campaign against harmful social media algorithms targeting children. While some parents support the initiative, students express concerns about its practicality and potential negative impact on their studies. Hochul's efforts also include legislative measures to restrict the sale of minors' data and require parental controls on social media platforms.
The parents of Greystones, a town in County Wicklow, Ireland, have collectively agreed not to buy smartphones for their children until they reach secondary school. All eight primary schools in the town have already banned electronic devices, and the parent associations have taken it a step further by initiating a voluntary ban among themselves. This approach aims to alleviate the pressure on children to constantly be connected to social media and has been welcomed by the locals. The rise in social media has been linked to the mental health crisis facing teenagers, and the smartphone ban is seen as a way to protect young people's mental health. Other towns in Ireland are considering implementing a similar policy, and some countries, such as France and Italy, have already banned phones in classrooms.