According to Sonia Livingstone, a professor at the London School of Economics who examines the effects of digital technologies on young people, the impact of smartphone bans in schools is not well understood. Existing studies in this area are relatively few and often present conflicting results. Livingstone acknowledges that there is some evidence suggesting that restricting phone access can enhance concentration among children, but it is more challenging to ascertain whether phone bans effectively reduce bullying or encourage more active play. She notes that research on these aspects remains insufficient.
Livingstone further explains that distinguishing how smartphones affect specific issues such as bullying, mental health, sleep, exercise, and concentration is extremely complex. She highlights that inadequate mental health services for young people and poor working conditions for teachers are other crucial issues that often get overshadowed by the focus on smartphone bans. While smartphones may contribute to these problems, they are frequently targeted as an easy solution. Livingstone suggests that smartphones are perceived as the most controllable and novel factor that can be addressed.
A new legislative proposal aims to raise the minimum age for children to consent to social media companies using their data from 13 to 16. According to MacAllister, creating age-appropriate versions of apps and smartphones for those under 16 could encourage them to engage in real-world activities. The UK passed the Online Safety Act in 2023 to protect children from certain types of content, but many parts of the law are not yet enforced.
Pete Etchells, a professor at Bath Spa University and author of “Unlocked: The Real Science of Screen Time,” argues that instead of focusing on bans, legislators should concentrate on teaching children to develop healthier relationships with technology and holding tech companies accountable. He emphasizes the need to design digital technologies more effectively and support people in understanding how to use them wisely.
Etchells believes that moving beyond simplistic narratives, such as assuming restricted screen time leads to increased outdoor play, is essential. He cites a 2011 South Korean law that prohibited children from playing online games between midnight and 6 a.m. After four years, the ban did not result in any significant changes in internet use or sleeping patterns, leading to the law’s repeal in 2021.
Etchells states that mental health professionals and researchers in this field agree there is no single root cause for improvements or deteriorations in young people’s well-being. Relying solely on smartphone restrictions as the primary solution to their challenges might offer a convenient answer rather than an effective one.
