Mobile phones: a ban is too easy

Opinions are divided: according to a survey by Sotomo, 82 per cent of Swiss people are in favour of a ban on mobile phones in schools. Ban the device, problem solved. But the world is rarely that simple.

What problem exactly is a ban supposed to solve? Is it to protect children from the harmful influences of social media? Do you want to make lessons disruption-free and make teachers' work easier? Do we want to encourage children to socialise more during breaks? Do we want to improve children's school performance?

Teenagers get nervous when their mobile phones are not nearby

A simple ban does not do justice to the complex situation. This can also be seen by looking at the answers that science has to offer on this topic. As you would expect, there are many, and some of them contradict each other. A study from England, for example, found that a general ban on mobile phones is particularly beneficial for underachieving children and young people. Disciplined and frequent (!) use of the device in connection with lessons, on the other hand, massively improves grades. These pupils perform best in Pisa studies.

A meta-analysis of 22 studies by the University of Augsburg shows how complicated our relationship with our smartphones is: one important factor, for example, is the fear of missing something (Fomo, Fear of Missing Out). Almost half of all young people say they get nervous when their mobile phone is not within reach.

Fear is a bad counsellor

And now schools are supposed to adapt the house rules on the basis of newspaper articles and polarising surveys? Out of fear of parents' councils? Fear is a bad counsellor. Schools must not throw their role in this important issue overboard without need.

Where else can children and young people acquire the media skills they obviously need? Where else can they talk about the fear of missing out, cyberbullying, sexting or the sneaky algorithms of Tiktok in a safe and competent environment? Where else can young people learn not to be too distracted by their smartphones? And where else can they try out in a group what 30 days of abstinence from mobile phones feels like - with all its positive effects?

Media literacy is absolutely crucial these days. Where else, if not at school, can it be taught and learnt?