Jury still out on whether school phone bans help kids learn, reduce bullying
All states and territories now have their own bans on mobile phones in schools. (Pexels: RDNE Stock project)
Mobile phones are now effectively banned in public schools across Australia, and politicians are spruiking big improvements in student behaviour since the change.
But while teens say they've largely adapted to being phoneless at school — and some even say the bans have been positive — an education professor says real evidence of the benefits is still lacking.
This month, South Australia has marked one year since banning mobile phones in public schools.
SA Premier Peter Malinauskas says "the evidence is in", children are playing with each other and not on their phones and there has been "a reduction in inappropriate behaviour".
School reporting data from the state indicates a 63 per cent decline in "critical incidents involving social media" in the first half of this year compared to the same period in 2023 before the ban.
The government also says there's been a 54 per cent drop in behavioural issues, 44 per cent fewer "policy compliance issues" and 10 per cent fewer violent incidents.
And when the ban began, principals reported "immediate changes" in student behaviour, according to authorities.
Loading...So what do students think?
When the new SA rules were introduced in term 3 last year, BTN High spoke to teens about their thoughts on the ban.
There was some resistance at the time, but a year in, anecdotally, most say they have adjusted.
Brodie, 15, was against the phone ban at first. (BTN High: Che Chorley)
Brodie, 15, admits he wasn't keen on the ban initially.
"I wasn't too happy about it but over the weeks I slowly grew into it," he says.
Hannah, 16, is even more positive, saying "it's actually been really good".
Sixteen-year-old Hannah thinks the ban has been a good thing. (BTN High: Che Chorley)
"Everyone's taken it really well … the socialisation levels have definitely improved, " she says.
"Recess and lunch breaks … we used to sit on our phones. I've noticed that people are a lot more active, people go around on walks a lot, they talk to each other more."
In terms of changes in classrooms, 16-year-old Tenzin says he's seen improvements.
"The classroom environment is quieter, there's less distraction, students are more engaged with the teacher," he says.
Tenzin, 16, says the phone ban has made classrooms calmer places to be. (BTN High: Che Chorley)
A different story at home
Leelu, 17, says the ban has helped cut down her social media use — even outside school.
"My tendency to pick up my phone and just scroll through social media has … changed a bit and I think that that's probably in relation to the phone ban," she says.
Adelaide teens Amani and LeeLu share their thoughts on the school phone ban. (BTN High)
However, the teens are less confident that the bans have reduced bullying.
"The only thing that it has stopped, definitely, is taking photos of people at school and posting them … I feel like that can't happen anymore," Amani, 17, says.
Leelu says the school phone ban might help cyberbullying while students are on campus — but at home, it's a different story.
"I think that students still have the ability to go home at night … be on social media and hide behind their screens and say nasty things," she says.
A lack of peer-reviewed evidence
Private schools across the country are still free to make their own rules about mobile phone use on campus.
Professor Marilyn Campbell would like to see more hard evidence of phone bans' effectiveness. (Supplied: Marilyn Campbell)
While SA authorities have been quick to hail phone bans in public schools a success, Marilyn Campbell from the Queensland University of Technology's School of Early Childhood and Inclusive Education says meaningful research on the benefits and drawbacks remains scarce.
Professor Campbell believes school mobile phone bans have become a method of political pointscoring.
"Ban the phones — it's catchy," she says.
"The South Australian government has … said nothing about distraction, they've said nothing about, 'Well, [test] scores have gone up compared to [before] phones were banned'.
"What they've actually said is … they've had less problems with mobile phones, discipline-wise … well, that's fairly obvious, isn't it [when phones are banned]?"
Phones 'just part of living now'
Professor Campbell says there isn't enough peer-reviewed evidence to prove whether phone bans lead to fewer distractions, better academic performance, improved mental health or less bullying.
"There's been no data on this perception that kids will learn more if we ban mobile phones," she says.
"All of the studies have found there is only 1 per cent of kids who are only cyberbullied and don't [also] get bullied face to face.
"[And] It's such a huge statement that going on your mobile phone is bad for mental health."
An education professor says there's little evidence on the benefits of phone bans at school. (Unsplash: Onur Binay)
Professor Campbell says, for some kids, being able to connect online is "really good for their mental health".
"For LGBT kids, for kids who feel different at school … connecting with their tribe who might not be at school is actually good for their mental health," she says.
Professor Campbell says there needs to be more research on how phone bans impact kids' lives more broadly and that, instead of banning phones, young people should be taught how to use their devices in moderation.
"There should be things that they are instructed in, in mobile phone etiquette … it's just part of living now," she says.
"You can't say, 'We won't have mobile phones anymore'."
Phone bans by state and territory
Western Australia: Years K–6 in public schools may not have a phone in their possession, while years 7–12 may, but it must be turned off and put away. Smart watches must be kept in aeroplane mode at school.
Northern Territory: Students from preschool to year 6 in government schools may not have a phone in their possession. Years 7–12 may have a phone at school, but it must be turned off and stored securely. Smartwatches must be in flight mode.
South Australia: Public school students must keep their mobile phones and other personal devices, such as smart watches, switched off and put away while they're at school. Each school has its own policy on how this works in practice.
Queensland: Public school students must keep mobile phones switched off and "away for the day" during school hours. Wearable devices, such as smartwatches, must have notifications switched off. Each school has its own policy on how this works in practice.
New South Wales: Student mobile phone use is banned in public primary and high schools. There are a variety of ways that schools can implement the ban locally.
Australian Capital Territory: Students in years P–10 may not use or access mobile phones or other personal communications devices during the school day or during school-authorised events. Students in years 11 and 12 can have their phones but must put their devices away during class time.
Tasmania: Students from years K–12 must have their mobile phones switched off and stored during school hours. Each school has its own policy on how this works in practice.
Victoria: Students must have phones switched off and securely stored during school hours. Each school has its own policy on how this works in practice. Wearable devices, tablets and other personal devices must have notifications turned off.
Note: All states and territories have exceptions to the ban in special circumstances, including for medical and educational reasons.