Brazil Implements Smartphone Restrictions in Schools

Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva has signed a bill limiting smartphone use in elementary and high schools. This aligns the country with a growing global trend to curb digital distractions in education.

Starting in February, the new law will restrict smartphone use in classrooms to emergencies, educational purposes, or for students with disabilities requiring the devices. Education Minister Camilo Santana stressed the need for the measure and noted that children’s early online activity makes it harder for parents to monitor their behaviour.

The bill has received rare bipartisan support from both President Lula’s allies and opponents, including former President Jair Bolsonaro. Public opinion also favours the move, with a Datafolha survey showing that nearly two-thirds of respondents support banning smartphones in schools.

As of 2023, about 66% of Brazilian schools had some form of cellphone restrictions, with 28% banning them entirely, according to the Brazilian Internet Steering Committee. Several states, including Rio de Janeiro, Maranhão, and Goiás, already enforce local bans, though enforcement has proven challenging. São Paulo, Brazil’s most populous state, is debating similar measures for public and private schools.

Global concerns about the impact of smartphone use on children have driven similar restrictions in other nations. France bans smartphones for students aged 6 to 15, and China recently imposed limits on children’s phone use. In the U.S., eight states have introduced laws to curb classroom phone distractions, while UNESCO reports that one in four countries has implemented school smartphone restrictions.