Parents Back School Phone Bans Amid Social Harm Concerns

A new survey by the Nitzan Association reveals widespread parental support for restricting smartphone use among students, even during breaks. A significant 88% of parents favor keeping mobile phones away from students during school hours. The study also highlighted concerns about the impact of excessive screen time, with one-fifth of parents reporting their children have experienced social harm, and 42% noting their children use social media for over four hours daily.

Furthermore, the survey indicated that a majority of parents, including those with children who have attention deficit disorders or learning disabilities (65%) and those with typically developing children (73%), expect schools to educate their children on responsible smartphone usage. Notably, parents of children with learning challenges are less concerned about potential isolation if phones are banned, with most not fearing their children would be unable to seek help in distress.

In response to these findings, the Nitzan Association has launched a preventative program called "Be Friendly, Be Kind." This initiative, approved by the Ministry of Education, aims to combat social harm among thousands of children and adolescents. The program is being offered to school principals and was developed by Dr. Mally Danino, utilizing an emotional-cognitive training model. It involves three key groups: educational staff, all students, and a selected group of student leaders who will act as "change agents" among their peers.