A new study from Norway suggests that banning smartphones in schools has led to a decrease in doctors visits for psychological symptoms and diseases among girls, reduced bullying for both genders, improved girls' GPA and attendance rates, with the largest effects seen among the poorest children. The debate on the impact of smartphones in schools continues, with some arguing that the narrower claim of avoiding smartphones in school holds more weight than the broader claim that they are solely responsible for deteriorating mental health.
Cell phone bans in schools and their actual impact via @tylercowen “So if you ban smart phones from schools, grades go up by a very modest amount, bullying falls by a less modest amount, and actual mental health diagnoses stay the same. “ https://t.co/kte5BTjKUX
Interesting. Would be intrigued to dig into the data - but it is one of those results that seems awfully plausible on the basis of observation and common sense. (Also: smartphones are obviously hugely distracting and for purely educational reasons it seems self-evident that they… https://t.co/Fc1EDbKAsh
So many educators are writing to me to say: It's not just the phones; it's the chromebooks and ipads and "free" edtech, all of which distracts more than it teaches. Jessica Gross at NYT summarizes their concerns calls for a "ruthless re-evaluation." https://t.co/ZIGeZfPCvz
I want to save space for people who a) find J. Haidt intensely annoying & are suspicious of the larger narrative around youth mental health, but b) find the case for banning cellphones in schools irrefutable.
How smartphone ban in schools impacts students: Study https://t.co/PmgREpIEPC https://t.co/D7TyMIS11j
Article of mine from March, 2023: "Adults are the reason kids are addicted to their phones." I'd word it diff'ly now: "Adults are ONE of the reasons kids are addicted to their phones." https://t.co/6DsKEOK9Y3
New paper from Norway: Banning smartphones in school - significantly decreased doctors visits for psychological symptoms and diseases among girls - reduced bullying among both genders - improved girls’ GPA and attendance rates - largest effect sizes were among the poorest kids https://t.co/lCjmNMJtcz
The narrower claim that smartphones should be avoided in school seems on stronger ground than the broader claim that they are principally responsible for deteriorating mental health https://t.co/DyaWhS5xSy