Over Half of Countries Ban Phones in Schools as UNESCO Flags Social Media Risks Among Teenagers
Global School Phone Bans Rise Sharply Amid Classroom and Safety Concerns
New Delhi, March 22: More than half of countries worldwide have now implemented bans on mobile phones in schools, according to findings from UNESCO’s Global Education Monitoring (GEM) team, reflecting growing concerns over declining classroom attention and rising cases of cyberbullying.The GEM team reported that 114 education systems currently enforce national-level restrictions on phone usage in schools, accounting for 58 per cent of countries globally. The increase has been rapid over a short period.
Less than 24 per cent of countries had such bans in place in June 2023 when the data was first tracked in the GEM Report. This figure rose to 40 per cent by early 2025 and has now climbed nearly 20 percentage points further by March 2026.
Social Media Linked to Rising Mental Health Concerns Among Girls
The report also highlighted the disproportionate impact of social media on teenage girls, particularly in relation to mental health and body image issues.According to the findings, girls are twice as likely as boys to experience eating disorders, with social media usage identified as a contributing factor.
Internal research from Facebook revealed that 32 per cent of teenage girls reported feeling worse about their bodies after using Instagram, underscoring the platform’s influence on self-perception.
TikTok Algorithm Raises Red Flags on Content Exposure
The GEM team flagged concerning patterns in TikTok’s content delivery system, particularly its targeting of teenage users.The report stated that teenagers are exposed to body image-related content on the platform every 39 seconds. Additionally, content associated with eating disorders is promoted approximately every eight minutes, raising alarms about the frequency and intensity of such exposure.
Rapid Policy Shift Reflects Global Education Priorities
A senior member of the GEM team noted that the expansion of mobile phone bans signals a decisive policy shift across education systems globally.The trend highlights increasing efforts by governments to mitigate distractions in classrooms and address the broader psychological and safety risks linked to digital platforms among young users.
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