Bengaluru: Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar on Monday said the government was actively discussing a ban on use of mobile phones by school children amid growing concerns over the impact of excessive screen time on them.
The government has been under pressure from parents to act decisively, the Dy CM told the media in Bengaluru. “There is mounting pressure from parents to curb mobile phone usage among students. We cannot disclose the ways in which mobiles are being misused. Several countries have imposed similar restrictions in schools, and we are examining such a model,” he said, adding that some schools have already acted on this.
Shivakumar’s comments come in the backdrop of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah seeking the views of university vice chancellors on imposing curbs on social media and mobile phone usage for children under 16 years.
The CM, while interacting with vice chancellors of universities on Saturday, cited policy decisions taken in a few developed nations to regulate gadget usage among minors. He urged experts to discuss and suggest if they could have a broad ban on use of mobile phones or just restrict access of children to social media.
He pointed out that excessive use of digital devices was adversely impacting students’ learning abilities, behavioral patterns and mental health. While several vice chancellors endorsed the proposal in principle, some flagged practical challenges, noting that many private institutions assign homework and academic tasks through mobile-based platforms.
Siddaramaiah, however, said his primary concern was the impact of mobile usage on students in government schools, where monitoring and digital discipline remain pressing issues.
School management associations, however, have urged the government to weigh the pros and cons of a total ban, as such a move alone will not address the deeper challenges of digital exposure among children. Instead of a blanket ban, they have proposed a structured, SoP-driven framework that promotes responsible use of mobile devices by students.
IT/BT Minister Priyank Kharge had said in the Assembly session that the government was examining the feasibility of restricting social media access for minors.
Incidentally, in February this year, Andhra Pradesh also said that it is planning to ban mobile phones in school.
