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European countries are increasingly concerned about the excessive use of mobile phones and social media among young people, prompting moves to ban or restrict their use in schools.

Recent studies have highlighted alarming connections between prolonged screen time and its negative effects on mental health and academic performance among children and adolescents. For example, a study by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) recommended limited and responsible use of mobile phones in schools .

In response, Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, in her second term that began in July 2023, has pledged to tackle the problem of social media addiction and online bullying. She announced a continent-wide investigation into the impact of social media on the well-being of young people .

Von der Leyen stated: "We are seeing more and more reports of what some call a mental health crisis. We will conduct the first-ever European investigation into the effects of social media on youth safety. We owe them this."

On the issue of cyberbullying, she expressed her concern: "My heart bleeds when I read about young people harming themselves or ending their lives because of online abuse" .

1. Bans and Restrictions in Schools

Several European countries have begun implementing or are considering bans on mobile phones in schools. In the Netherlands, a full ban on mobile phones was implemented in secondary schools starting in 2024, and as of September, the ban was extended to primary schools. However, phones can still be used in classrooms for specific educational purposes or for medical reasons .

In Italy, the government led by Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni introduced a ban on mobile phone use in classrooms starting from the current school year, following a decree issued in July 2023 .

France is also experimenting with a total ban on mobile phones throughout the school day in 180 middle schools, affecting children aged 11 to 15. Over 50,000 students are participating in this pilot project, which may be expanded nationally by 2025. Currently, students are required to turn off their phones during school hours, and the experiment goes further by requiring students to hand over their devices upon arrival at school .

Hungary, under Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, has also imposed a ban on mobile phones in schools, despite resistance from some students in the capital, Budapest.

In Belgium, mobile phones are being banned in classrooms in French-speaking regions, including Brussels and Wallonia, from the current academic year . However, there is no general ban in the Dutch-speaking region of Flanders, although some schools have voluntarily implemented restrictions.

2. Mobile Phone Restrictions in Other European Countries

In Greece, students are required to keep their mobile phones in their school bags during lessons and are prohibited from using them, even during breaks. Violators may face suspension for one day . Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis has hinted at the possibility of stricter rules, including storing phones in secure areas until the end of the school day.

Similarly, several regions in Spain, including Madrid, Galicia, Castile-La Mancha, Andalusia, and Extremadura, have implemented restrictions on mobile phone use in schools. The Spanish Council of Public Schools—the highest government advisory body in education—agreed unanimously in January 2023 to ban mobile phones in primary schools and impose restrictions in secondary schools  .

These measures aim to reduce the negative impact of mobile phone use on children's growth and learning, amid growing concerns about its effect on youth mental health and academic development.

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**Sources:**

1.  Hungary’s mobile phone ban in schools.

2. Belgium mobile phone restrictions in schools.

3.Greece’s mobile phone rules in schools.

4. Spain’s mobile phone restrictions:

5. Spanish Council of Public Schools decision: