Countries that banned smartphone use by school-going kids:
Saudi Arabia: In 2021, Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Education has banned students from using mobile phones in schools. The ministry, however, said school administrators have the right to allow students to bring mobile phones out of necessity, provided it is kept with the administration.
South Korea: The Asian country, home of electronics giants Samsung and LG, legislature passed a nationwide law in 2025 banning mobile phone use in school classrooms. This is a comprehensive national ban aimed at addressing heavy social media use’s impact on young people, Reuters reported.
Brazil: The South American country enacted a federal law in January 2025 that limits smartphone use for students aged 4 to 17 in schools nationwide, prohibiting phones in classrooms and hallways unless used for educational or health-related purposes.
France: The European nation banned phone use for students under 15 in middle schools (collèges) in 2018. Starting January 2025, it implemented a nationwide ban on mobile phones in primary and secondary schools up to age 15, after a successful trial of stricter “digital breaks” in middle schools.
The 2018 ban requires phones to be turned off and kept in bags during the school day, while the newer initiative aims to create an “enforced digital pause” by making students hand in their phones upon arrival.
Pakistan: Pakistan’s Punjab province has approved a resolution to ban mobile phones in public and private schools and colleges. The Punjab Higher Education Department (HED) stated that the move aims to combat digital distractions and negative impacts on student well-being, according to a LinkedIn post. HED notified all colleges expressing concerns over the disruptive impact of mobile phones, particularly the frequent use of social media by students during lectures and the effect of teachers’ phone use on the classroom atmosphere.
Phone restrictions in other countries
Additional countries with bans or restrictions include:
China: Requiring written parental consent for school phone use.
Italy: Expanding phone bans to all educational institutions from 2024.
Sweden: Announced a nationwide ban in all schools effective autumn 2026):
Public health implications
These measures reflect a growing trend globally to restrict mobile phone use among teens in educational settings to promote better focus and well-being, according to Unesco.
The suggested that with increasing screen time among teens, understanding the breadth of screen use’s impact on health is crucial.
The findings by Zablotsky et all highlight that higher non-school screen time is linked to adverse health and “psychosocial” outcomes reported directly by teens.
Public health efforts may focus on moderating recreational screen use, promoting physical activity, healthy sleep, and social support among teenagers.
