In 2025, a whopping 97% of 13- to 15-year-olds own one, and this number is only getting bigger – in 2023, that figure was 93%. Phones have become such a constant in students’ lives that it’s no surprise educators and parents are asking: how much are students really using their phones at school?
It’s more than just a minor concern. In Finland, for example, a new law bans mobile phone use during the school day. It’s a bold step in a growing global conversation about how much students are using their phones at school (and what kind of impact they’re having).
In this blog, we’ll explore:
- What students are actually doing on their phones during school time
- Why their in-school phone use is concerning
- How we can help reduce students’ use of phones at school
How are phones being used in school?
To get a better picture, one U.S.-based study tracked how students were using their smartphones during the school day. The results found adolescents spent 1.5 hours on their phones during the 6.5-hour school day on average. That’s nearly a quarter of the school day spent on a screen that isn’t part of classroom learning. Most of this screen time was spent messaging and using social media, not accessing educational resources.
It’s also worth noting that those numbers may be an underestimate. The study couldn’t track all activity on iPhones, particularly native apps like iMessage or Safari. And of course, smartphones aren’t the only screens in a student’s day; tablets and laptops are also in the mix.
Why does this matter?
Poorly managed phone use can have a serious impact on students’ ability to learn and thrive:
1. Attention and Focus
When students have their phones on hand, they can find it hard to concentrate. Notifications, group chats, and the lure of the never-ending content scroll can seriously impact attention. Even just having a phone nearby can reduce cognitive capacity and make learning more difficult.
2. Mental Health
Social media is a double-edged sword. While it connects students, it also contributes to anxiety, comparison, and lower self-esteem. Constant access to digital validation can affect students’ emotional well-being and increase feelings of isolation, and social media has also been linked to increased bullying.
3. Sleep
Sleep plays a big role in academic success, memory and emotional regulation. However,the blue light from screens and constant notifications can disrupt natural sleep patterns, making it harder to fall and stay asleep. And the effects are significant: one study found that students who didn’t get enough sleep remembered 40% less than their well-rested peers.
What does this mean for phones in the classroom?
Banning phones in school altogether, like Finland is doing, is one way to tackle the issue. But policy alone isn’t necessarily enough to change behaviour. If we want students to build lasting, healthy habits with technology, we also need to teach them how to use their phones mindfully.
So, here are a few strategies to help students take back control of their screen time:
1. Teach students to manage their phone usage
Helping students build healthy phone habits starts with small, consistent changes. Encourage them to set regular phone-free times during the day, use apps that track and limit screen time, and even turn their screen mode to greyscale.
Even guiding them to keep their phones “out of sight, out of mind” during homework and study sessions can help. Research shows that just having a phone in view, even if it’s not in use, can reduce concentration. A simple habit like putting their phone in a drawer or another room can make a huge difference in focus and productivity.
It’s also important to help students find meaningful alternatives to screen time. Activities like exercise, music, journaling, or even a walk offer healthy outlets for stress and build self-esteem in ways that passive scrolling never could.
2. Encourage establishing a healthy night-time routine
Perhaps one of the most overlooked habits is putting the phone away before bed, especially because screen time right before sleep can seriously interfere with it.
Experts recommend unplugging at least an hour before bedtime. Encourage students to charge their phones outside the bedroom and wind down with a calming activity like reading, journaling, or meditation.
3. Model the behaviour you want to see
Let’s face it: we can be just as guilty of overusing our phones, and children notice. The best way to teach healthier habits is to lead by example. So, put your own phone down during conversations and be intentional about when and how you use screens. By sharing your strategies for managing digital distractions, students will notice, and they’ll follow your lead.
Final Thoughts
Smartphones aren’t going away anytime soon. However, it is important that we don’t allow them to overshadow the human relationships and real-world learning experiences that make education meaningful.
Whether it’s through a combination of policy, education or banning entirely, we need to teach students not just how to use technology but how to live well, both with and without it.
For more tools and tips to help reduce the negative effects of mobile phone use, check out our guide page here.
