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Chile has officially banned the use of mobile phones and other smart devices in primary and middle school classrooms, a move that will take effect next year.
The South American nation has become the latest country to impose such ban on young studentsThe goal of which is to reduce the harmful effects of smartphone use and reduce distractions in the classroom.
The move aligns with other countries including Chile France, brazilHungary, Netherlandsand China, which has implemented varying levels of smartphone restrictions in schools.
Education Minister Nicolas Cataldo praised the decision on social media, saying, “We are driving a cultural change for children and teens, who today more than ever need to see each other’s faces, socialize during recess, and gain concentration to further promote learning.”
The ban was approved in principle by the Senate earlier this year, with its final amendments passed by a vote in Chile’s lower house of Congress late Tuesday.
After a debate, lawmakers overwhelmingly supported the updated law banning the use of smartphones during class hours except in emergencies and for educational and other purposes specified under the law.
The bill must be signed by President Gabriel Borik before it can take effect nationwide at the beginning of the 2026 school year.
In response to growing concerns about young people and their mental health, parents and teachers in Chile have been lobbying for such legislation for years, arguing that smartphone use disrupts students’ learning and emotional development.
A school in the capital, santiagolaunched a successful pilot program this year that blocks cellphone signals.
More than half of Chilean students report having their studies disrupted by digital devices, according to the latest international study by the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development, which evaluates students’ academic performance.
Phone ban has ‘potential benefits’
A study in the UK states Phone ban offers “potential benefits” For school performance and student achievement as well as children’s well-being.
One analysis – which looked at responses from 162 secondary schools in England – suggested a “clear correlation” between effective phone bans and improved school performance.
The study suggested that children in schools with effective restrictions achieved one to two grades higher test results than children in schools with “lax policies”.
Secondary schools with effective restrictions were more than twice as likely to be rated outstanding by the schools regulator as the national average.