Denmark plans complete ban on mobile phones in schools

Denmark's government is planning a legal ban on cell phones and private tablets at all primary and secondary schools (Folkeskole) and after-school care centers. According to the Danish newspaper Politiken, Children and Education Minister Mattias Tesfaye explained that the devices are to be banned not only during lessons but also during breaks. Head teachers are critical of the move. A few years ago, the Danish government initially refrained from introducing a ban.

The U-turn is justified with the recommendation of a commission for the well-being of children. The Trivselskommission was founded in 2023 to get to the bottom of the increasing dissatisfaction among children and young people. The cell phone ban is one of 35 recommendations that were made. Others concern, for example, age limits and addictive website designs. The commission advises that children under the age of 13 should not be given a smartphone or their own tablet. The ban on cell phones in schools is equivalent to a ban on smoking.

Head teachers react skeptically

Denmark's principals' association Skolelederforeningen is not enthusiastic about the legislative initiative. Chairwoman Dorte Andreas argues that most schools in the country already have their own rules. The schools fear for their decision-making authority. It makes a difference whether the schools themselves issue bans or whether this is prescribed by law.

Denmark is in good company with its initiative. More and more countries in Europe and around the world are considering how they can better protect children and young people from the dangers posed by devices and the internet. In Australia, for example, a social media ban for children and young people under the age of 16 is expected to lead to an improvement. In France, a ban on cell phones in schools has been in place since 2018. Norway has imposed a minimum age for social media of 15. In Denmark, studies have shown that 9 to 14-year-olds already spend an average of three hours a day on TikTok and YouTube. 94 percent already had a social media profile before the age of 13.

The EU should also help

The Commission for Wellbeing is not only concerned with harmful influences from the internet, but also with what children are missing out on as a result of media consumption: Essential components of childhood such as leisure activities, meeting and spending time with friends and family, playing and reading are being missed out on. Denmark should also exert pressure on the EU to introduce Europe-wide regulations.

(mki)