In an interview given on April 7 during the broadcast political questions, broadcast on France Interthe Minister of National Education Nicole Belloubet declared that: “The impact [des] social media for young people is absolutely catastrophic.” She then mentioned the possibility of a “digital break” aimed at banning the use of smartphones in colleges.
The reason for this request is the fight against online violence between adolescents. In 2018, the National Assembly had already voted to ban cell phones in schools and colleges. But this measure was ultimately not accompanied by the expected success. One reason is that it mainly targets the use of phones in teaching activities, but not specifically mobile ownership.
Online violence does not stop at the gates of colleges
According to the Minister of National Education, a ban on smartphones in colleges would prevent situations of violence between adolescents, and in particular cyberharassment. But is this a good reason to ban cell phones in colleges?
Cyberbullying is defined as intentional, repeated aggressive behavior, with an inequality of power between perpetrators and victims and using electronic technology as a medium. It is notably distinguished by the possibility of constant intimidation, a degree of anonymity of the attackers and exposure to a wider public leading to greater embarrassment for the victims. Through this definition, we easily understand that cyberbullying is not limited to school time, it can also occur in the evening outside the establishment and on weekends. This ban would therefore only have a limited effect on this point.
Another problem with this proposal is that it completely avoids the fact that cyberbullying among adolescents is associated with forms of school bullying, as shown by a study published in 2022 in the journal Behavioral Sciences. This ban on telephones in colleges would therefore only have a very relative effect on cyberharassment. It would be more judicious to work on interventions to prevent situations of school bullying.
Specifically regarding cyberbullying, several studies recommend to use educational programs within establishments involving parent training, consistent disciplinary methods in the school, very clear classroom rules on this subject and qualified classroom management by teachers. In summary, if banning cell phones is considered as a solution to mitigate school violence and reduce cyberbullying, it is possible that the resulting benefits will be very limited.
Prohibit to limit attentional distractions in progress
However, is this ban on cell phones in establishments a bad measure? In fact, it would have some advantages that are too little highlighted by Nicole Belloubet. An interesting observation emerges results of the Pisa 2024 survey : 30% of 15-year-old students say they are distracted by using digital devices in mathematics lessons. Similarly, 27% are distracted by other students using them during lessons. This seems to show that the introduction of switched on cell phones in establishments, and in particular in classes, generates multitasking activities among middle and high school students.
Multitasking is a situation where a person is able to simultaneously and/or concurrently perform two or more tasks, each requiring specific cognitive processing. For example, having a main activity – in this context, listening to the lecture – and carrying out secondary tasks in parallel, such as checking social media, responding to instant messages or watching videos. The problem with this activity is that it is associated with lower learning performancean increase in memory and attention regulation problems (i.e. a greater frequency of mind wandering, attention distraction and task switching).
It can therefore be assumed that the adoption of stricter rules regarding the use of mobile phones in schools could prevent interruptions due to notification ringtones during lessons, or reduce the temptation for students to check their devices, which disrupts not only their own concentration but also that of other students who see out of the corner of their eye their classmates engage in multitasking. There would therefore be an advantage to better controlling the use of cell phones in establishments, but mainly linked to the fact that they can disrupt classes.
Dealing with adolescent nomophobia
Does this, however, justify a complete ban on cell phones in colleges? Difficult to answer when part of the adolescent population must deal with nomophobia, that is, the fear, anxiety and discomfort of not having a mobile device at a given time or not having access to a device when needed. It is explained by the fear of not being able to communicate with other people; the fear of not being able to connect; fear of not being able to immediately access information; and the fear of giving up the convenience provided by mobile devices.
A meta-analysis conducted on 52 studies noted that approximately 20% of the 47,399 individuals in the sample presented severe symptoms of nomophobia. It also shows that this severity is more marked among 12-18 year olds. These individuals would present a certain number of psychological vulnerabilities such as a feeling of loneliness, stress, anxiety, symptoms of depression, academic difficulties or even sleep problems.
A strict ban on mobile phones therefore carries the risk of aggravating the difficulties of these students, the latter sometimes being able to serve as a psychological crutch in the face of discomfort. Not to mention that, if some adolescents prefer to maintain virtual contact more than physical, others consider their smartphone as an extension of their body, and some see the activities they carry out there with applications as a determinant of their identity.
Establishments must make an (informed) choice
A systematic review of 22 studies looked at the impacts of banning cell phones in schools. It is currently being published but the authors have already delivered their first conclusion in an article published by The Conversation. They were interested in the impact of banning mobile phones in schools on cyberbullying, academic performance and mental health of students. Overall, the authors observe that the evidence for banning cell phones in schools is weak and inconclusive. The authors therefore recommend leaving this decision to schools, which have direct experience of the advantages and disadvantages of a ban in their establishment, with a set of specific constraints (geographical, pedagogical and material).
Today, cell phones are an integral part of teenagers’ lives. It is also a tool of emancipation for young people because it allows them to create socialization links, to obtain information and also to assert their own identity. Beyond the bans, we must therefore support adolescents so that they use their mobile phones appropriately and responsibly, including within schools. This requires support for digital hygiene, that is to say knowing how to activate the concentration mode of your phone in class (or airplane mode) to avoid the temptation of multitasking.
Establishments must also very clearly lay down rules on the proper use of telephones in establishments (in classrooms and other spaces), propose disciplinary measures when cell phones are used to perpetrate online violence and finally promote links. with mental health centers when individuals experience suffering related to their phone.
If you are a victim or witness of cyberharassment, you can call 3018, seven days a week from 9 hours at 11 p.m. hours, or download the‘application 3018.
* Séverine Erhel is a lecturer in cognitive psychology at Rennes II University.
.