More than half of the countries have banned phones in schools amid mounting concerns about declining attention in classrooms and cyberbullying, according to the UNSECO's Global Education Monitoring (GEM) team. The team found that girls are twice as likely as boys to suffer from eating disorders exacerbated by social media usage. "Recent global monitoring shows that 114 education systems now have a national ban on mobile phones in schools, representing 58% of countries worldwide. Several countries have introduced national bans since late 2025, continuing the upward trend. It asserted that emotional well-being is crucial for academic success, and the impact of social media on it is particularly pronounced among girls.

Source: The Hindu March 22, 2026 09:47 UTC