SAO PAULO (AP) — Brazil is taking significant steps to limit smartphone usage in schools as President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva has signed a new bill aimed at controlling this trend among students in elementary and high schools. This legislation, effective starting in February, is in response to growing concerns about children’s access to technology and its impact on their learning and social interactions. The legal framework will allow smartphone use only in emergencies, for educational purposes, or by students with disabilities who require such devices for assistance.

During a ceremonial signing at the presidential palace in Brasilia, Lula emphasized that, "We cannot allow humanism to be replaced by algorithms," highlighting his belief that this measure is crucial for educational integrity. Alongside him, Education Minister Camilo Santana remarked that with children engaging online at increasingly younger ages, regulating device use in schools will aid parents in monitoring their children's activities. "We want those devices, as in many other countries, to only be used in class for pedagogical purposes and with a teacher’s guidance," he stated, reinforcing the educational focus of the legislation.

This initiative has garnered rare bipartisan support within Brazil's political landscape, uniting allies of Lula and former President Jair Bolsonaro. Evidence from an October survey by Brazilian polling organization Datafolha revealed that nearly two-thirds of parents and students are in favor of restricting smartphone access in schools. Interestingly, over three-quarters believe smartphones have adverse effects on children.

Ricardo Martins Ramos, a father of two girls, expressed his approval of the restrictions, saying, "It is useful for them to do searches for school, but to use it socially isn’t good." His daughter Isabela, 13, echoed these sentiments, mentioning the distraction smartphones pose during lessons. Although she supports the new law, Isabela believes additional measures are necessary to address issues like bullying, which persist in their schools.

By 2023, approximately two-thirds of Brazilian educational institutions had placed some limits on cellphone usage, with 28% outright banning them, according to reports by the Brazilian Internet Steering Committee. Local governments in states including Rio de Janeiro, Maranhão, and Goiás have already enacted similar prohibitions, but enforcing these laws remains a challenge.

In São Paulo, the nation’s most populous state, discussions are ongoing regarding potential phone bans in both public and private schools. As Gabriele Alexandra Henriques Pinheiro, a mother of a child with autism, pointed out, adults must set better examples concerning smartphone use. "It is tough," she said. "I try to restrict the time my son watches any screens, but whenever I have a task to perform I have to use the smartphone to be able to do it all."

Institutions, parents, and policymakers have long raised alarms regarding the association between children's smartphone use and various mental health issues, including anxiety and threats to their concentration necessary for effective learning. Globally, actions similar to Brazil’s have been observed; for instance, countries like China and France have imposed their own restrictions. In the United States, several states have enacted laws targeting smartphone use in schools to help minimize disruptions, reflecting a growing trend to safeguard children's welfare amid digital distractions.

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