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New Brazil law restricts use of smartphones in elementary and high schools

SAO PAULO (AP) — On Monday, Brazil’s President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva signed a bill that limits the use of smartphones in schools, aligning with a growing global trend to impose such restrictions.

Starting in February, the move will affect students at elementary and high schools across Brazil. It establishes a legal framework that allows students to use smartphones only in emergencies, for educational purposes, or if they have disabilities that require them.

Education Minister Camilo Santana told journalists in Brasilia on Monday that children are going online at younger ages, making it more difficult for parents to monitor their activities. He emphasized that restricting smartphones at school will help address this issue.

“We want these devices, like in many other countries, to be used in class solely for educational purposes and under a teacher’s guidance,” Santana said.

The bill received rare support across the political spectrum, from both allies of leftist Lula and his far-right opponent, former President Jair Bolsonaro.

Many parents and students also backed the initiative. A survey conducted in October by Brazilian polling firm Datafolha revealed that nearly two-thirds of respondents supported banning smartphone use by children and teenagers in schools. Over three-quarters of them believed these devices did more harm than good to their children.

“(Restricting cell phones) is tough, but necessary. It’s useful for school searches, but using it socially isn’t good,” said Ricardo Martins Ramos, 43, a father of two girls and the owner of a hamburger restaurant in Rio de Janeiro. “Kids will interact more.”

His 13-year-old daughter, Isabela, said her classmates had difficulty focusing in class due to their smartphones. While she supported the move, she felt it wouldn’t be enough to improve the learning environment for everyone.

“When the teacher allows you to use your phone, it’s because they want you to do research,” she explained. “But there are still many issues schools can’t solve, like bullying and harassment.”

As of 2023, around two-thirds of Brazilian schools had imposed some form of cellphone restriction, with 28% banning them entirely, according to a survey released in August by the Brazilian Internet Steering Committee.

The states of Rio de Janeiro, Maranhao, and Goias have already passed local laws banning such devices in schools. However, authorities have faced challenges in enforcing these laws.

Authorities in São Paulo, Brazil’s most populous state, are debating whether smartphones should be banned in both public and private schools.

Gabriele Alexandra Henriques Pinheiro, 25, a beauty parlor worker and mother of a boy diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder, supports the restrictions but believes adults will continue to set a poor example for children with their smartphone use.

“It’s tough,” she said. “I try to limit the time my son spends on screens, but whenever I need to get something done, I have to use my smartphone to manage it all.”

For years, institutions, governments, and parents have linked children’s smartphone use with issues like bullying, suicidal thoughts, anxiety, and a loss of focus needed for learning. China took action last year to limit children’s smartphone use, while France has implemented a ban on smartphones in schools for children aged six to 15.

Cellphone bans are gaining traction in the United States, where eight states have passed laws or policies to limit student access to smartphones and reduce distractions in classrooms.

An increasing number of parents across Europe are concerned about evidence that smartphone use among young children threatens their safety and mental health.

A September report by UNESCO, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, revealed that one in four countries has already restricted smartphone use in schools.

During a U.S. Senate hearing last year, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg apologized to parents of children who had been exploited, bullied, or driven to self-harm through social media. He also highlighted Meta’s ongoing investments in “industrywide” efforts to protect children.

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