Chile becomes latest country to ban smartphone use during class
SANTIAGO, Chile — Chile has passed a bill banning the use of cell phones and other smart devices during lessons in primary and secondary schools.
The new law will come into force next year, making Chile the latest country to restrict the use of smartphones among young students in order to reduce their harmful effects and reduce distractions in the classroom. Other countries with varying levels of restrictions on smartphone use in schools include France, Brazil, Hungary, the Netherlands and China.
“We are moving forward in favor of a cultural change for children and adolescents who, today more than ever, need to see each other again, to socialize during recess and to regain their concentration to further stimulate learning,” Education Minister Nicolás Cataldo wrote on social media after the decision.
The Senate already approved in principle the ban on cell phones in schools earlier this year, but made several changes that were put to a vote Tuesday evening in the lower house of Chile’s Congress.
After debate, lawmakers overwhelmingly approved updated legislation banning the use of smartphones during school hours — except in emergencies and for educational and other purposes specified by law. The bill must be signed by President Gabriel Boric before coming into force nationally at the start of the 2026 school year.
In response to growing concerns about young people and their mental health, Chilean parents and teachers have been pushing for such a law for years, arguing that smartphone use harms students’ learning and emotional development. A school in Santiago, Chile’s capital, successfully launched a pilot program this year to block cell phone signals.
More than half of all Chilean students said digital devices disrupted their learning, according to the most recent international study from the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development, which assesses students’ academic performance.
