A study conducted in Norway has shown that girls from low-income families benefit the most from the ban on cell phones in middle schools. The ban has resulted in reduced mental health symptoms and improved grades for girls in Norway. After the ban was introduced, girls also attended high school more regularly. School grades improved, and enrollment in upper secondary school increased, particularly among girls from low-income and poorly educated families. Additionally, the ban on smartphones in schools has led to a reduction in school bullying, benefiting both girls and boys.
The research is still undergoing peer review, but it supports claims that smartphones have had a negative impact on the mental health of young people globally. Notable figures like American social psychologist Jonathan Haidt have also warned about the dangers of excessive cellphone use among children and young people.
Individual schools in Norway have been able to implement their own policies regarding cellphone use, and a Norwegian researcher named Sara Abrahamsson looked at the effects of these bans on health, grades, applications to high school and vocational school, and instances of bullying. The study found significant improvements in girls’ mental health, grades, and likelihood of applying to high school when cell phone bans were in place at their schools.
Abrahamsson attributed the gender difference in the effects of the ban to the fact that girls use mobile phones more frequently than boys. She also found that simply silencing cell phones during school hours did not have the same positive effects as banning them entirely.
Overall, the research suggests that the ban on cell phones in middle schools in Norway has had positive effects on girls’ mental health, grades, and educational outcomes. It underscores the importance of regulating smartphone use among young people to promote their overall well-being and academic success.