Today’s kids were practically born with a smartphone in their hands, whether we like it or not. Digital natives, they’ve grown up online. And now, this generation is being penalised for the world they’ve inherited.
Smartphone bans are spreading worldwide in primary and secondary schools - from India to New Zealand to the Isle of Man, backed by claims they boost grades and minimise disruption in the classroom. A fifth of parents regret giving their kids smartphones in the first place. But these blanket bans are knee-jerk reactions, ignoring how students actually learn today.
Banning phones doesn’t solve anything. It sidesteps the real issue: we’re not teaching students how to use technology responsibly. Instead of providing the right tools for managing their devices, we’re opting for the easy way out - taking away the device. That’s avoidance, not a solution.
I’m not against limits on smartphone use. Safeguards are essential to protect kids from harmful content and prevent cyberbullying. But blanket bans are blunt, ineffective tools. They miss the bigger picture when it comes to learning.
Phones aren’t just distractions. They’re tools that help students access content, connect with peers and create.
We need to modernise education. The world doesn’t still operate in the 1970s with pen, paper, and textbooks. Today, 88% of students turn to TikTok, YouTube or Instagram for revision. Instead of pushing them towards outdated methods, we should meet them where they are, on their phones.
Mobile flashcards, revision apps and collaborative platforms are more effective, accessible and personalised. These resources save on expensive textbooks, private tutoring and courses that often feel outdated and disconnected from how students actually learn. This isn’t about dumbing down education. It’s about aligning it with the world students live in.
Research shows that new ways of learning are helping: students at university were found to learn twice as much with an AI tutor compared to traditional lectures. These AI tutors adjust pace and content to each student’s needs, something overcrowded classrooms simply can’t offer.
This isn’t about replacing teachers with AI and smartphones. But with funding shortfalls and rising student-teacher ratios, ignoring the technology at our fingertips is short-sighted.
The world outside school doesn’t ban phones. Why should we prepare kids for a reality that doesn’t exist?
Beyond advocating for the benefits of smartphones, banning them doesn’t make the problem go away, it just shifts responsibility. We need to teach kids how to regulate their attention, remove harmful apps and use their devices to their advantage. The world outside school doesn’t ban phones. Why should we prepare kids for a reality that doesn’t exist?
In the workplace, universities and everyday life, we expect adults to self-regulate. Schools should model that discipline early, helping students develop the skills to manage screen time and establish healthy study routines. Banning smartphones doesn’t eliminate distractions. In fact, it can make them more tempting.
Teaching students to navigate the digital world responsibly will always be more effective than simply stopping them at the school gates. Once those gates close, the challenge of managing technology doesn’t disappear.
This summer, the UK government launched a major AI skills initiative aimed at preparing millions for a tech-driven future. Yet, at the same time, schools are banning the very tools that could help students develop these essential skills. How can we push a generation towards a future shaped by AI and innovation while simultaneously restricting access to the tools that will help them understand and engage with these technologies?
One thing is clear: smartphone bans aren’t protecting students, they’re holding them back
Early exposure to digital tools helps students discover their passions, whether that’s coding, design, gaming or entrepreneurship. Smartphones let them experiment, create and problem solve in ways that pen and paper simply can’t. Banning them in the classroom stifles innovation and risks shutting the door on the very skills that tomorrow’s workforce will depend on.
One thing is clear: smartphone bans aren’t protecting students, they’re holding them back. If we want young people to thrive in the digital world they’ve grown up in, we need to equip them with the tools and skills to use technology responsibly and productively.
Banning phones is the easy option. Teaching students how to navigate their devices and the digital world at large? That’s the solution that truly prepares them for the future.
Phillip Devoy is co-founder of Simple Study
