Protecting children means regulating tech companies, not only banning phones in schools
The article argues that banning smartphones in schools is an ineffective solution to the problems caused by digital platforms. It suggests that governments should instead regulate the addictive design features of apps like Instagram and TikTok.
Why it matters
It shifts the policy debate from hardware restrictions to the systemic regulation of big tech's algorithmic business models.
From France and Brazil to Denmark and South Korea, restrictions on smartphones in schools are spreading at remarkable speed. A UNESCO Global Education Monitoring Report found that 114 education systems (58% of countries worldwide) now enforce national-level restrictions on mobile phones in schools. Australia has become the first country to ban social media for children under 16. India has not announced a national ban yet; however, the debate has reached its shores too: Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh announced state-level restrictions on children’s social media use in March 2026.
The article advocates for increased government regulation of large corporations, which is a traditionally left-leaning policy stance.
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