When the Netherlands banned smartphones in classrooms at the start of 2024, many worried about student protests and unhappy parents. Instead, something remarkable happened that has educators around the world taking notice. A government study of 317 high schools found that three-quarters reported improved student concentration, while nearly two-thirds saw better social interactions among classmates.
Students who once sat silently scrolling during breaks are now talking to each other, debating, and even engaging in the occasional friendly argument. Teachers report fewer disruptions, stronger classroom participation, and students who seem genuinely more present during lessons. The results have been so positive that countries including France, Hungary, and Finland are following suit with their own smartphone bans. One education official summed it up perfectly: removing phones from classrooms is having “wonderful positive effects” that prove sometimes the simplest solutions create the biggest changes.