Brazil has begun the new school year with a nationwide ban on smartphones in classrooms and during break times. This move follows a law signed by President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva in January, making Brazil the latest country to join a growing list of nations imposing such restrictions on students.
Brazil, a country with more smartphones than people, is taking action against the growing addiction to social media among its youth. The ban aims to reduce distractions and encourage more direct social interaction, especially after years of pandemic-related disruptions.
Kamilly Marques, a 14-year-old student from Rio de Janeiro’s Reverend Martin Luther King public school, shared her experience with AFP. After the city implemented the phone ban a year ago, Marques no longer brought her phone to school. Initially, she found the restriction “annoying” and “boring,” but over time, she has noticed improvements in her social life and academic performance.
“It was difficult because we get addicted, and it ends up causing a certain withdrawal,” Marques explained. “But after the habit passes, we interact more.”
She pointed out how the ban helped reduce issues like cyberbullying, which students were unaware of due to their focus on their phones rather than their peers. “We didn’t even know a classmate was being cyberbullied because we were more focused on our phones than on our friends,” she said.
The Growing Trend of Smartphone Bans in Schools
According to UNESCO, as of late 2024, 40% of global education systems have implemented some form of smartphone ban in schools, an increase from 30% the previous year.
Renan Ferreirinha, Rio’s municipal education secretary, told AFP that school officials noticed a significant rise in anxiety and dependence on smartphones among students after the COVID-19 pandemic. He highlighted that many children were returning to school “more agitated, more impatient, more addicted to cell phones, and much more anxious.”
A 2024 survey conducted by Opinion Box and Mobile Time revealed concerning statistics about smartphone usage among Brazilian children. On average, children received their first phone at age 10, with children under three spending almost an hour and a half on smartphones daily. This figure increased dramatically to nearly four hours per day for teens aged 13 to 16.
A study from the Rio de Janeiro municipality, conducted in September, found improvements in student concentration, class participation, and overall performance since the phone ban was enforced. Ferreirinha, who also served as the law’s rapporteur, emphasized the importance of reducing distractions in classrooms. “If moderating cellphone use is difficult for an adult, imagine what it’s like for a child,” he said. “It doesn’t make sense for a teacher to be trying to teach a class while a child is watching a video or playing a game on their phone.”
Ferreirinha also noted that some students had told him they were “back to playing like kids did in the old days,” a sentiment that highlights the positive shift in school culture since the law was passed.
Classrooms Transformed
Fernanda Heitor, deputy director at the Reverend Martin Luther King school, described the changes since the phone ban. Before the restriction, classes were often disrupted by students’ constant phone use, and break times were marked by students isolated with their devices.
“There was resistance, and even today, some students still try to hide their phones when they enter school,” Heitor said. However, she emphasized that break time has become more lively and interactive. “Before, students were glued to their phones, not talking or playing with each other. Now, it’s transformed the school. It’s much happier, much more lively.”
Under the new law, phones can still be used for educational, emergency, or health-related purposes.
Balancing Technology and Education
Fabio Campos, an expert on education and technology, expressed support for the ban but stressed the importance of teaching students how to use technology responsibly. He warned against the risk of reducing technological access in schools, especially in a country like Brazil, where educational inequality is a pressing issue. “Brazil is a country of inequality. Many students only have access to technology at school,” he said. “If schools become less technological, it will be a failure.”
Ferreirinha also called on parents to set stricter limits on smartphone use at home, reinforcing the idea that managing screen time requires effort both at school and within the family.
At the Reverend Martin Luther King school, 11-year-old Pedro Henrique admitted to missing his smartphone during breaks, though he recognized the benefits of the new system. “I miss the cellphone a little during break time,” he said. “But at the end of the day, I feel happy because I’ll be with my phone and using it again.”
With the new law in place, Brazil hopes to foster healthier habits among students, encouraging them to engage more with their peers and concentrate better in class. The country’s move reflects a broader global trend as schools seek to curb the growing influence of smartphones on children’s education and social lives.
