Brazil Schools Report Wide Adoption of New Cell Phone Restriction Law

A year after Brazil's Lei nº 15.100/2025 took effect, a Ministry of Education survey found that 92% of school managers have implemented the rule limiting non‑pedagogical cellphone use. Forty‑five percent say the process is fully consolidated, while another 47% report ongoing implementation challenges.

Managers reported strong positive outcomes: 97% observed greater student participation in classroom activities, 95% noted improved concentration and overall coexistence, and 88% saw a drop in digital aggression and cyberbullying. The law shifted schools from allowing unrestricted cellphone use (13% before) to banning it in all spaces, raising the proportion of schools with general restrictions from 20% to 48%.

Despite the limits, 86% of respondents said pedagogical use of technology has not declined, and 71% disagreed that the measure hampers students' development of digital skills. The survey, involving 2,469 managers across public and private institutions nationwide, also highlighted increased manual, artistic, and screen‑free activities and reduced anxiety among students.