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Graphic Truth: The state of cellphone bans in schools
Should smartphones be banned in schools? Three-quarters of US schools already restrict the use of cellphones during lesson hours, but only a handful of state governments have imposed blanket restrictions. Florida became the first one last year, followed by Illinois and Virginia, where bans will take effect this school year. In Canada, half a dozen provincial governments have passed restrictions.
The measures come amid growing scrutiny of the harmful effects of smartphone use in general – and social media in particular – on teen mental health. US Surgeon General Vivek Murthy in May called for cigarette-style health warnings on social media. A recent bestseller traces the rise of the current “Anxious generation” to the emergence of smartphones in the early 2010s. And as any schoolteacher can tell you, smartphones are generally not great for the classroom learning experience.
But on the other side of it, parents have raised safety concerns. Cellphones are often the only way for caregivers to locate or contact children during emergencies. As the number of US school shootings has soared over the past 10 years, some parents are particularly reluctant to cut that tie – especially during school hours. Alongside these worries, many parents and lawmakers simply think the decision should be left to local school boards rather than faraway state legislators.
Here is a look at the current state of cellphone bans in the US and Canada. By the way, where do you stand on this issue? Let us know here, along with your name and location, and we may publish your response in an upcoming edition of GZERO North.
Norway's school phone ban aims to reclaim "stolen focus", says PM Jonas Støre
Sometimes the best ideas are the ones that seem obvious in retrospect. In recent weeks, Norway's government has made a concerted push to ban smartphones and tablets from classrooms nationwide. Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Støre explains his administration's radical move, which Education Minister Kari Nessa Nordtun has spearheaded, to Ian Bremmer in a wide-ranging conversation on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference.
Their interview is featured in the latest episode of the show GZERO World on US public television stations nationwide (check local listings). Bremmer and Støre's discussion focuses primarily on Norway's energy transition and NATO, but towards the end of the conversation, they talk about schools and screentime and the remarkable benefits so far.
"We see students have started to play in the breaks [recess]. The girls say, 'We can finally take a shower after the gym. We are not afraid anymore to be photographed.' And there's a completely different level of social interaction."
This move, Støre explains, reflects a broader effort in Norway to prioritize community well-being and address the effects of the digital age on children's development, including declining reading abilities. And it's not just children who benefit from less screen time, he adds, but adults as well. And it's a decision, Støre explains, that other governments across Europe and the world could also do well to implement.