University of Birmingham study finds school phone bans ineffective; grades, mental health, sleep, and exercise unchanged in 1227 students across 30 schools.
The students’ sleep and exercise weren’t different between schools with and without bans. Phone policies didn’t reduce total phone use, as students still used their phones a lot. The study checked 1,227 students from 30 different schools.
The study’s authors concluded that bans don’t help improve students’ well-being. More screen time did cause problems, affecting mental health and behavior, as well as sleep and exercise.
Solihull already asked parents to limit phone buys. Dr. Goodyear, who led the University’s study, said phone bans aren’t enough because banning phones alone does not solve problems, and more action is needed.
We need better ways to reduce phone use, and a complete approach matters more. It means looking beyond school phone bans but schools can still ban phones, if needed, including this in a bigger plan that focuses on phone and social media use.
The Education Secretary rejected a phone ban law, thinking it is a gimmick. Bridget Phillipson wants fewer phones in class but argues that a new law isn’t the best way. The Conservative party proposed the ban and wants to add it to a children’s bill; Laura Trott asked Phillipson for support.
