Saxony to implement smartphone ban for students up to grade 8

Starting August 17, Saxony will implement a ban on private smartphone use in schools for students up to the 8th grade. This regulation explicitly includes tablets and smartwatches. For students in grades 7 and 8, the ministry has planned 15 hours of digital self-learning to balance the restriction.

This move is part of a broader trend in Germany. Bavaria has extended similar bans to secondary schools up to the 7th grade, and Rhineland-Palatinate plans a mandatory ban for students up to the 10th grade by February 2027. However, organizations such as the Education and Science Workers' Union (GEW) have criticized these blanket bans, advocating instead for enhanced media literacy education.

Parallel to school-based restrictions, the initiative ‘Smarter Start ab 14’ is advocating for a later introduction of smartphones to combat peer pressure and potential psychological harms. Experts warn of rising issues such as cyberbullying and problematic usage patterns, noting that many parents feel pressured to provide devices early due to social expectations.