Overview

• From the start of the 2025–26 school year, Bremen, Hessen, Thüringen, Brandenburg and Saarland prohibit private smartphone use on school grounds, including during breaks.
• Students may still bring devices, with some exceptions for upper secondary grades in Bremen and Hessen, as ministers cite mental health, focus and wellbeing to justify the rules.
• The Bundeselternrat, Deutsches Kinderhilfswerk, GMK and D64 call for locally tailored, pedagogically grounded policies, stronger media-education curricula, teacher training and upgraded school IT.
• The groups warn that blanket prohibitions risk disadvantaging pupils without reliable access at home and urge formal involvement of students, parents and teachers in setting school rules.
• A nationwide ban remains unlikely after two BMK discussions, while the federal government plans an expert commission on youth media protection and is open to exploring a minimum social‑media age.