Smartphones in Schools: A Christian dilemma for the digital age

I have been following the Smartphone-Free Childhood movement with interest. Although I do not speak officially on this topic for the Association of Christian Teachers, I support this initiative as a Christian parent and believe Christian teachers should seriously consider the arguments for smartphone-free schools.

I am a mum of two very different children. My son loves his own company – playing his cornet, drawing, and setting up Airfix dioramas. He is an avid reader. My daughter is more social – she loves chatting with friends, horse riding, and making jewellery.

What they have in common, however, is their love of screen time, especially my daughter, who would easily spend hours on a phone or iPad (if we let her), hooked by the constant dopamine hit that comes with endless scrolling.

A year or so ago, my husband and I saw smartphones as an inevitable part of growing up. We figured secondary school would be the right time to give our kids phones – for transport, emergencies, and staying connected with new friends. Since they are still in primary school, we thought we had a few more years before facing the inevitable smartphone battle. But then, phones started appearing in their peers’ lives, Instagram accounts popped up, and I began hearing more and more about the downsides – bullying, social media addiction, endless scrolling, and screen dependence. The impact quickly became impossible to ignore, and my unease at potentially introducing devices to my kids increased.

Smartphone-free schools

I approach this issue not only as a Christian parent but also as a professional. In my work with the Association of Christian Teachers, there has been a notable rise in colleagues expressing concern over the hold smartphones seem to have on pupils. And the evidence of the cost of having smartphones in our pockets is becoming clear. In The Anxious Generation (2024), Jonathan Haidt highlights a sharp rise in anxiety, depression, self-harm, and suicide among pre-teens and teenagers over the past decade. He argues that the main cause is the spread of social media and the rise of smartphones since 2012. On average, teenagers receive 237 smartphone notifications daily – about one every few minutes – and believe me, this happens during lessons too! It will not surprise you that this all makes it somewhat difficult to concentrate on schoolwork.

This has led to increasing calls for government intervention in schools, with groups such as Smartphone-Free Schools advocating for a genuinely smartphone-free environment. They suggest either allowing only basic ‘dumb phones’ or securely locking smartphones away in lockers or using Yondr pouches.

It is evident that we need to seriously consider the negative effects of screens and phones on children, but should it fall to teachers to enforce any decisions? Is it truly possible to develop a strategy that limits harm to children and teenagers while also helping them grow in responsible freedom? And with countries across Europe tightening smartphone restrictions, should we be pushing for stronger, enforceable guidance from the government?

And, perhaps most crucially, why should Christians be concerned?

Although there is no direct reference to a digital age in Scripture, it is worth asking whether the Bible offers any guidance on this topic. Let me take you through what I believe are three compelling arguments, based on Biblical principles, for considering stronger controls on smartphones in schools.

1. Seek the common good

If we are to respond in a way that follows Jeremiah’s call to ‘seek the welfare of the city’ (Jeremiah 29:7), it is important as Christians that we do not just discuss what is best for our own children, but what is best for all children. There is some evidence that smartphone culture is undermining the common good, damaging both academic success and wellbeing. Conversely, the positive implications of removing smartphones from schools cannot be overstated. Not only do children seem happier and more content, but children at schools with effective smartphone bans achieve GCSE results 1–2 grades higher. Teachers in the Netherlands, where smartphones are under greater restriction, describe students as being more attentive and focused on their work in class.

2. Protect the vulnerable

Another relevant Biblical mandate is to ‘defend the weak and the fatherless’ (Psalm 82:3), which surely applies here. Children are inherently immature and more susceptible to danger. With smartphone use linked to mental health issues and 25% of children showing signs of behavioural addiction, these devices expose them to serious risks such as pornography, cyberbullying, and grooming. Alarmingly, 79% of children encounter violent pornography before turning 18, and sextortion has become the fastest-growing crime against teenagers.

The issue is that even if responsible parents tightly control their child’s phone, their child is only as safe as the least restricted pupil in their class. And many children have unrestricted access to their phones, allowing them to share harmful content with other students. This lack of control undermines the core responsibility of schools to protect their students; it feels like a subversion of safeguarding.

3. Real relationships matter

While smartphones allow us to connect with others, they often provide only the illusion of meaningful relationships. Technology enables communication, but online interactions can feel shallow and detached from real-life relationships. The apostle John expressed the importance of face-to-face connection, writing, ‘I hope to come to you and speak face to face, so that our joy may be complete’ (2 John 12).

With UK 12-year-olds spending an average of 29 hours a week on their phones, they have less time to develop essential relational skills. Stricter restrictions could help reinforce that excessive phone use is neither normal nor healthy.

Culture change

As a parent, I am convinced. However, that is not to say it will be easy when I am wrestling over the issue with my kids. That is why schools need to be brought into the conversation in a meaningful way – otherwise, the culture will never change.

The Biblical story reminds us that connection is what we were made for. As Christians, convinced of the Imago Dei, we must thoughtfully consider how to protect our children and young people from the digital threats that they easily become reliant on and that ultimately undermine much of what it means to be truly human.

Many of the problems have been summarised on Smartphone Free Childhood’s website, including references to all the figures mentioned in this post. Visit smartphonefreechildhood.co.uk/the-problem for more.