European school mobile phone restrictions

European educational authorities are moving toward restricting mobile phone use in schools to improve student concentration and mental wellbeing.

In Sweden, a new national law has implemented a mobile phone ban, requiring devices to be collected at the start of the school day and returned at its conclusion. While some schools had previously practiced similar policies, the legislation is now being applied nationwide. Reactions are divided; some students report improved focus and social interaction, while others desire phone use during breaks. Parents of students in grades 7–9 have raised concerns that the ban may compromise safety and communication, noting that phones serve essential functions as digital IDs, bank cards, and emergency contact tools. To support the transition, the government has allocated 95 million SEK for 2026 for administration and storage, with 100 million SEK allocated annually thereafter.

In Germany, the Ministry of Education in Baden-Württemberg is developing a statewide ban for the 2027/28 school year. Following a coalition agreement between the CDU and the Greens, the proposed regulation aims to replace individual school policies with uniform rules. Under the principle ‘When school is in session, the phone takes a break,’ the ban would prohibit the private use of personal digital devices from the start of the first lesson until the end of the last, including breaks.

Exceptions are planned for lunch breaks, emergencies, and specific health-related needs, such as blood sugar monitoring, while pedagogical use for classroom instruction remains permitted. To complement these restrictions, the ministry intends to strengthen media literacy by integrating social media topics into subjects like civics from as early as the first grade.