Study Finds School Phone Bans Fail to Boost Grades, Wellbeing

A groundbreaking study from the University of Birmingham has found that banning smartphones in schools does not improve students' grades, mental wellbeing, or other health measures. The research, which surveyed 1,227 students across 30 secondary schools, indicated that restrictive phone policies did not significantly alter overall phone usage or positively impact sleep, exercise, or academic performance. Instead, it revealed a correlation between increased smartphone and social media use and poorer mental health outcomes, including anxiety and depression. Dr. Victoria Goodyear, the study's lead author, emphasized the need for a more comprehensive approach beyond just banning phones, stating that such measures alone are insufficient to address the negative effects of excessive phone use. The study concludes that while school bans are not opposed, they should be part of a broader strategy to reduce screen time among adolescents. This research feeds into ongoing debates about smartphone policies in educational settings.