Ban on cell phones in schools goes down well with the population
Published: Sunday, Dec 15th 2024, 13:20
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According to a survey, 82% of Swiss people are in favor of a ban on cell phones in schools. Even two thirds of young people between the ages of 18 and 25 were in favor of such a ban. A ban on the short video app Tiktok would also go down well with the population.
At 87%, women were slightly more in favor of a ban on cell phones at school than men (78%), according to a representative survey by the opinion research institute Sotomo, which was published on Sunday. Approval increases with age.
Both members of the SVP and the SP are in favor of a ban with 85 percent. According to the survey, 83% of the Greens are in favor. The Green Liberals were somewhat more skeptical, with 75% in favor.
The broad approval of the ban on cell phones in schools indicates a change in values, wrote the authors of the survey. While digital technologies offer opportunities, awareness of their risks is also growing. Addictive behavior, concentration problems and impaired social interaction are at the forefront among young people.
The President of the Swiss Conference of Cantonal Ministers of Education (EDK), Silvia Steiner, called for a ban on cell phones in schools in the fall. The Zurich Director of Education said at the time that she did not see why cell phones were needed in the classroom or on the playground.
In Switzerland, cell phone bans or cell phone-free zones at schools are an issue in several cantons, including Aargau, Zurich and Solothurn.
Almost 70 percent in favor of Tiktok ban
A ban on Tiktok was also well received by the population in the survey. 68 percent would be in favor of it. Surprisingly, two thirds of young adults between the ages of 18 and 25 were in favor of a ban. This is despite the fact that they are the most likely to use Tiktok themselves. There is also a gender difference here. 74% of women and 62% of men are in favor of such a ban.
Parents of teenagers, i.e. adults aged between 46 and 55, were slightly less in favor of a ban at 59%, as they would take a more differentiated view of the benefits and risks of the platform. In terms of party affiliation, the centrists were most in favor of a Tiktok ban with 81%, followed by the SP and the Greens with 75% each. The FDP had the lowest level of support at 57%, reflecting the party's liberal stance.
The video app from Chinese parent company Bytedance is popular for short video clips. However, the application has recently been in the headlines due to security concerns. Some Western countries fear that the Chinese government could access user data via Bytedance and use the app for propaganda. The company and the government in Beijing have always rejected the accusations.
According to Sotomo, the risk of addiction, data protection problems and negative effects on self-image are at the heart of the Tiktok ban. International developments such as Tiktok bans in Nepal, ongoing debates in the USA and the social media ban for under-16s in Australia have intensified the discussion. Greece, Italy and New Zealand, among others, already have a ban on cell phones in the classroom.
The representative Sotomo survey was conducted as part of the Generation Barometer 2024/2025 among 2754 people aged 18 and over. The data was collected between September 18 and October 9.
©Keystone/SDA
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