Media education at schoolShould smartphones be banned in schools?

Other countries have already taken this step: Smartphones are banned in schools in France and Italy. And in Germany, too, many teachers and parents would like to see consistent action taken against smartphones in the playground and classroom. This is because digital devices are blamed for many problems. For example, for a drop in school performance due to constant distraction, for a lack of social interaction among pupils or for increasing brutalization through violence-glorifying, radical or pornographic web content. We show what options schools still have apart from a total ban on smartphones.

Should smartphones be banned in schools?

The discussion about excessive smartphone and social media use among young people often revolves around the question of whether bans are the right way to prevent problems such as cyberbullying or lack of concentration. However, the effectiveness of bans is also repeatedly called into question. Instead of strict restrictions, many advocate early media education. This means supporting children and young people in dealing with digital media right from the start. Active support from parents and teachers helps children and young people to be better prepared for the dangers and risks. They also learn how to use smartphones in a responsible and self-determined way.

Experience shows that young people can often easily avoid bans, while close supervision gives them the opportunity to seek support if they have problems. Some teachers are also critical of a smartphone ban. This is because it would then be their job to enforce this ban in everyday school life. Conflicts and an increased workload would be inevitable.

Cell phone ban in schools - a look at neighboring countries

  • In France, cell phones have been banned in class since 2010 and, since 2018, throughout school hours - including during breaks, for example. This regulation applies to all types of schools up to lycées, which are attended by pupils aged 15 to 18.
  • Italy has also had a ban on cell phones in class since 2007. This ban has been repeatedly adapted over the years. In the school year now starting, smartphones will no longer be allowed to be used for teaching purposes either.
  • In the Netherlands, an urgent recommendation from the Ministry of Education to ban smartphones in classrooms will apply from September 2024. This regulation has been in place for secondary schools since the beginning of the year and is now being extended to other types of schools. However, as it is not a legal ban, schools can still decide for themselves whether smartphones may be used or not.
  • The UK is also taking the route of a clear recommendation, although this is not a legal ban. In February 2024, a guideline was published recommending that schools collect smartphones on entering the school grounds and only hand them back at the end of the school day. For 16 to 18-year-olds, the guideline leaves room for them to be given smartphone time.

What options are there apart from bans? Tips for schools

What often goes unmentioned in the discussion about banning smartphones in schools: Even without a nationwide ban, many schools have already found regulations for the use of smartphones. These are set out, for example, in the house rules, the school media concept or in special"cell phone regulations". The image of a classroom in which all children are busy with their smartphones and lessons are no longer possible therefore does not correspond to everyday life in German schools, even without a nationwide smartphone ban.

In many schools, there are already successful approaches to sensibly regulating the use of smartphones in everyday school life without banning them completely. Some schools rely on binding rules on cell phone use, combined with targeted education about digital media. This preventative approach should start from Year 5 at the latest and be supplemented by special parent training. In the peer-to-peer approach, older pupils who are trained as media scouts pass on their knowledge about appropriate media use to younger classmates and are available as trustworthy contact persons.

Tips for schools:

  1. Establish clear rules: Define fixed times and places where smartphones may be used in a smartphone policy. Templates are available from the Rhineland-Palatinate Educational Institute, for example. The Bavarian State Ministry of Education and Cultural Affairs has collected some examples of good practice here. Remember that the cell phone policy must be in line with the school law of your respective federal state.
  2. Involve the pupils: Acceptance of rules will be higher among pupils if they have been involved in drawing them up. Children's rights also require that children are consulted in all decisions that affect them.
  3. Teach media skills: Integrate regular teaching units on the safe and responsible use of digital media. You can find lots of teaching materials on this at klicksafe.
  4. Involve the parents: Offer information events or training sessions to involve parents in media education. You can find various guides and flyers for parents at klicksafe.
  5. Introduce peer-to-peer projects: Use media scout programs to support media literacy education at eye level.
  6. Open communication: Create an atmosphere of trust in which students can turn to you if they have problems with cell phone use. This can be done, for example, as part of a dedicated consultation hour for all digital topics.

Reading tip: scout magazine "Ban everything!"

In its current issue, scout magazine addresses the question of a general ban on cell phones in German schools under the title "Alles verbieten! The magazine provides a good overview of this complex topic. In addition, various people from the fields of media education, education and, last but not least, children and young people themselves have their say.

All articles in the scout magazine are available online. The magazine can also be ordered free of charge from the Medienanstalt Hamburg/Schleswig-Holstein and can also be downloaded as a PDF version.