Lower Saxony state parliament: focus on cell phone bans in schools!

Lower Saxony state parliament: focus on cell phone bans in schools!

In the state parliament of Lower Saxony on June 24, 2025, there is a controversial debate on the agenda: It is about a planned ban on cell phones and smartwatches for minor students during the lesson, breaks and in all day. The application comes from the CDU, whose parliamentary group leader Sebastian Lechner emphasizes the important aspect of child protection and speaks of an urgent need for action. The problem of cyberbullying, sexual harassment and cyber grooming is called in this context, whereby the application of the CDU also determines the legal basis for the ban. While exceptions are planned for high school students and for educational purposes, the use in emergencies or medically justified individual cases is allowed, as reported [N-TV].

cell phone use of the young people

The discussion is underpinned by current studies. According to the postbank youth digital study in 2023, young people in Germany spend an average of 36.9 hours a week on the smartphone, with 16 to 18 year olds spend over five hours a day. At the same time, 11- to 17-year-olds receive up to 237 notifications a day, 23 percent of them during school, which can lead to a significant distraction, such as the Study shows . It is also interesting that 24.5 percent of 10 to 17-year-olds use social media risky- a behavior that carries health risks. The current endeavors in schools to rethink cell phone usage rules are therefore more than understandable.

different study situation

But how effective are these bans actually? An analysis of 22 studies worldwide shows that the results are inconsistent. While a study published in 2016 from England showed that schools with a mobile phone ban achieved better test results, especially among lower performance students, a Swedish study (2019) could not demonstrate a positive effect. According to the researchers, it is important not only to rely on bans, but also to strengthen the pedagogical accompaniment and to promote media literacy. In this regard, schools must have a good hand in order to integrate cell phones as a teaching aid, as the Tagesschau reports.

A uniform ban should also be linked to a clear educational concept to prepare students for responsible use of smartphones and the like. In many countries, cell phones are already prohibited in schools - a step that some German schools are increasingly considering.

How the discussion about cell phone bans will develop in Lower Saxony remains exciting. The decision will not only touch the schools, but also shape learning and coexistence in the class. In a world in which digital media are omnipresent, it is crucial that schools find a way to integrate technology sensibly and responsibly in everyday education.