Brazil’s President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva signed a law on Monday restricting smartphone use in schools, aligning with a global trend toward such measures, reports AP.
Effective February, the law will apply to elementary and high school students across the nation. It establishes guidelines allowing device use only in emergencies, for educational activities, or by students with disabilities requiring them.
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“We cannot allow humanism to be replaced by algorithms,” Lula said during a private ceremony in Brasilia. He described the law as a recognition of educators' efforts to support children and teenagers.
A study by Fundacao Getulio Vargas in May revealed that Brazil has 258 million smartphones, surpassing its population of 203 million. Market research from last year showed Brazilians spend an average of 9 hours and 13 minutes daily on screens, among the highest globally.
Education Minister Camilo Santana noted that children’s early exposure to online content complicates parental monitoring, and limiting smartphone use in schools aims to address this challenge.
The legislation garnered rare bipartisan support from both Lula’s allies and those of his far-right predecessor, Jair Bolsonaro.
Parents and students largely back the initiative. An October survey by Datafolha found nearly two-thirds of respondents supported banning smartphones in schools, and over three-quarters believed the devices harm more than help children.
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Ricardo Martins Ramos, a 43-year-old father and restaurant owner in Rio de Janeiro, called the restrictions “tough but necessary,” explaining that while smartphones are useful for schoolwork, excessive social use is detrimental. His 13-year-old daughter Isabela agreed, citing classmates’ struggles to concentrate during lessons. However, she highlighted unresolved issues like bullying and harassment.
As of 2023, two-thirds of Brazilian schools had some form of smartphone restriction, with 28% enforcing a total ban, according to an August survey by the Brazilian Internet Steering Committee. Several states, including Rio de Janeiro, Maranhão, and Goiás, have enacted local bans, but enforcement remains challenging. Sao Paulo is currently debating extending restrictions to both public and private schools.
Gabriele Alexandra Henriques Pinheiro, a 25-year-old beauty professional and mother of a boy with autism spectrum disorder, supports the restrictions but noted adults often set poor examples of smartphone use. She admitted that her own reliance on her device complicates efforts to limit her son’s screen time.
Experts and institutions have linked children’s smartphone use to bullying, anxiety, suicidal ideation, and diminished concentration. Other countries have implemented similar restrictions: China limited children’s smartphone use last year, and France has banned the devices in schools for children aged 6 to 15.
In the United States, eight states have passed laws or policies to curb smartphone use in classrooms. Meanwhile, more European parents are voicing concerns about the safety and mental health risks associated with smartphone use among children.
A UNESCO report published in September revealed that one in four countries has already imposed school restrictions on smartphones.
At a U.S. Senate hearing last year, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg apologised to parents of children harmed via social media and highlighted ongoing industry efforts to improve child protection.