School Parents Advocate for Cell Phone Restriction Policies
In a recent survey commissioned by Postbank, it has been revealed that the demand for a mobile phone ban in schools is not a generational issue, as both younger and older parents largely agree on the need for such restrictions during school hours.
The survey found that an impressive 80% of parents, particularly those aged 40 and above, support a ban on mobile phones in schools. Younger parents, known as digital natives, also show support, albeit with a slightly higher emphasis on stricter rules on their children's smartphone and social media use outside of school hours.
However, there is a generational divide among parents regarding opinions on mobile phone rules outside of school. Digital natives are more likely to restrict phone use before bedtime and limit daily usage time, while older parents, or digital immigrants, tend to rely more on personal responsibility and emphasize restrictions during meals. Despite these differences, nearly equal majorities of both groups (around 50%) forbid phone use during school hours and while studying.
The German Teachers' Association, however, opposes an absolute ban on mobile phones in schools. The association chairman supports a ban on private mobile phone use during lessons. A significant number of teachers have expressed concerns about such bans, but the German government and ministries have implemented or are pushing for mobile phone bans in schools starting in 2025 to promote children's social skills and concentration, indicating institutional support for such bans.
Stefan Dull, president of the German Teachers' Association, finds a secret use of mobile phones attractive if a ban is implemented. He advocates for clear rules in schools regarding mobile phone use and guides young people towards a considered use of these devices. Dull also emphasizes the high potential for distraction that smartphones possess, a challenge that even many adults struggle to resist.
The use of digital media, according to Dull, should be specifically guided in schools to help children and young people develop appropriate and responsible use skills. This is crucial, as a recent representative study, "Leisure Monitor 2025", has shown that many Germans spend a lot of time on smartphones and the internet.
In June, the state parliament of Saarland banned the use of private smartphones and smartwatches in the first four grades of primary and special schools. Schools in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, on the other hand, are to regulate mobile phone use themselves. Instructionally irrelevant objects, including mobile phones, could be collected at the end of the school day, according to the association chairman.
Interestingly, 32% of parents support a mobile phone ban but believe there should be exceptions for certain situations. Respondents in the "Leisure Monitor 2025" study also complain of neglected purely analog leisure activities.
In summary, while generational differences in parental attitudes toward phone use rules outside of school exist, there is broad common support across generations for mobile phone bans during school hours in Germany. However, the data on teachers’ generational opinions specifically is not provided in the results.
- The survey results suggest that parents, whether digital natives or digital immigrants, have a shared interest in promoting education-and-self-development by supporting mobile phone bans during school hours.
- Despite the differences in mobile phone rules outside of school between digital natives and digital immigrants, both generations show a strong interest in technology, as evidenced by the high usage of smartphones and the internet among Germans, as revealed in the "Leisure Monitor 2025" study.
