Study Finds School Smartphone Bans Do Not Improve Grades or Mental Health

Research from the University of Birmingham reveals that restrictive phone policies in schools fail to significantly reduce overall screen time or improve student outcomes.

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.