Last year, an entire town’s primary schools banned smartphones. This is what happened
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The results of a town-wide ban on smartphones in primary schools
- More than 30 primary schools in St Albans, Hertfordshire, banned smartphones for students up to age 14 due to the negative impact of social media use outside of school.
- Educators said the ban resulted in improved attention, relationships, and a decrease in smartphone ownership among older primary students too.
- Prior to the ban, WhatsApp was a major source of bullying and negativity, including exposure to harmful content.
- While the ban has reduced issues, some problems persist, highlighting the need for a broader strategy to address phone and social media use.
- Parents and educators are advocating for wider adoption of such bans, including at the secondary school level, and for government support in implementing stricter measures.