Youth Voice – Time called on school cellphone use

In a bid to enhance educational outcomes, the government has mandated a crackdown on mobile phones, deeming them to be more detrimental instruments of distraction than useful educational tools. By Term 2, all schools will be required to implement the new policy. Is this government paternalism an overreach or a necessary step in serving the greater good? Speaking as a former student and victim of digital distraction, I argue the latter, and here’s why. 

Young people are growing up in a digital world and a social media saturated society. Kiwi kids were recently ranked fifth in the world for being distracted by digital devices. A UNESCO report highlights the immediate disruption to learning caused by technology use, as well as its long-term negative effects on physical and mental wellbeing, and academic performance. 

In addition, the US Surgeon-General identifies social media as a significant contributor to teenage depression, anxiety, and other issues. With up to 95 percent of teenagers using social media platforms, and a third reporting near constant engagement, phone addiction presents a real challenge for educators.

We must remember that schools are places to learn, develop healthy study habits, interpersonal skills and physical activity. In classrooms, students should be fully engaged in education and the schoolyard is a space for play, building relationships with peers, carefree of the online world. 

Furthermore, study suggests that the lowest achieving students have the most to gain from a phone ban. For many, concentrating in study can be hard enough without having the added dinging and temptation of a phone! Removing any barriers to engagement is surely a win.

But let’s be honest, the policy definitely isn’t a silver bullet. Students already have devices on hand for use in the classroom. Teachers have the seemingly impossible job of constantly monitoring screens and I’m sure many students already take the liberty of slipping in between tabs for non-educational purposes. This is an opportunity to teach students how to better manage their device use and support them in navigating a digitally saturated world. It is also important to consider that this is most certainly not the only reason why there may be underachievement – it’s just a small slice of the pie and one that is low cost – so why not try. 

Ultimately, we all need breaks from our phones to focus, concentrate and ensure we are being fully present in all areas of life; this article isn’t just for young people, adults can also take note and I am certainly on the how-to-digitally-detox journey. 

If young people grow up used to being distracted by phones at school, then what will happen at university, work or functioning in family life? Aristotle’s adage, ‘Good habits formed at youth make all the difference’, rings true. As a community, let’s do what we can to form and encourage those good habits.