Overview

• The study, involving 1,227 students across 30 schools in England, found no meaningful differences in academic performance, mental health, sleep, or physical activity between schools with and without phone bans.
• Restrictive phone policies in schools did not reduce the total time students spent on smartphones and social media during the day.
• Increased screen time overall was linked to poorer mental health, lower academic achievement, less physical activity, and disrupted sleep patterns.
• Researchers emphasized the need for a more holistic approach to addressing adolescent smartphone use, both inside and outside of schools.
• The study, published in The Lancet Regional Health - Europe, is the first of its kind to examine the impact of school phone bans on a wide range of student outcomes.