Finland passes law restricting smartphone use by primary and secondary school students

The Finnish parliament has approved a law restricting the use of mobile devices such as smartphones by primary school children and secondary school students. The law is set to come into effect in August 2025, after the summer holidays.

Finland bans smartphones in schools | Yle News | Yle

Finland restricts use of mobile phones during school day | Schools | The Guardian
https://www.theguardian.com/education/2025/apr/30/finland-restricts-use-of-mobile-phones-during-school-day

This law does not completely ban the use of smartphones by elementary and junior high school students, but prohibits their use under certain conditions. For example, using smartphones during class will be prohibited.

Users must get special permission from their teacher to use the phone to make phone calls, get academic support, or address health-related issues.

In addition, teachers have the authority to confiscate the device if it causes disruption at school.

Already, from the beginning of 2025, mobile phone use has been banned in all schools in Denmark. According to the Danish Welfare Board, many digital platforms have a minimum age for use, but in reality, 94% of children in the country have accounts before they turn 13, and children aged 9 to 14 spend an average of three hours a day on TikTok and YouTube. Rasmus Meyer, chairman of the Welfare Board, told the news site The Guardian, 'Measures are needed to prevent schools from being colonized by digital platforms,' and called for measures in other European countries.

Additionally, the Norwegian government has described tech companies as the enemy of young children's minds, and has tightened the minimum age for using social media to 15. France also banned the use of mobile phones on school grounds for primary and secondary school students in 2018, and is trialing a 'digital break' for children up to the age of 15, creating days when they cannot use mobile phones.

'Digital pause': France pilots school mobile phone ban
https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20240904-digital-pause-france-pilots-school-mobile-phone-ban