School phone bans didn't improve teen mental health, study finds

A study in JAMA Network Open found that school smartphone bans in Iceland produced no meaningful improvement in teen mental health. Researchers analyzed nearly 24,000 responses from 13- to 15-year-olds at 70 schools, 22 of which introduced bans between 2018 and 2023. Depression, anxiety, hostility, bullying and overall well-being showed no significant change.

• Nearly 24,000 responses from 70 Icelandic schools; 22 had bans from 2018–2023
• No meaningful change in depression, anxiety, hostility or well-being
• Bullying and daily social media, gaming and video time did not decline
• Authors say bans alone "may be insufficient" to improve adolescent mental health