Can Keeping Phones Away Improve Students’ Marks? An Indian Study Offers Clues
A study of 16,683 students across 10 institutions in Odisha found that classroom phone restrictions improved academic performance, especially for some student groups.
The Smartphone Distraction Problem
Smartphones help students access digital textbooks, educational videos and online classes. However, notifications, messages and social media can interrupt study sessions and make it harder to concentrate. The question is not whether phones are useful, but whether using them during lessons can distract students from learning.
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A Study Involving 16,683 Students
A study published in Science in October 2026 examined classroom phone restrictions among 16,683 students across 10 higher education institutions in Odisha. The researchers reported improved academic performance when phones were restricted during class, with particularly noticeable benefits among lower-performing students and first-year undergraduates. The findings provide experimental evidence that reducing phone-related distractions can support learning in some educational settings.
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Do Phone Restrictions Help Everyone Equally?
The reported benefits were not identical across all groups. Effects were smaller among higher-performing students, postgraduate students and students in science, technology, engineering and mathematics fields. Attendance did not increase, suggesting that the improvement was more closely associated with classroom attention and learning conditions than with simply having more students present. The results should not be interpreted as proof that every student will earn higher marks if phones are banned.
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Practical Ways to Reduce Distractions
Students can begin by silencing non-essential notifications, keeping social media apps closed during study sessions and checking messages during planned breaks. Those who need a phone for digital learning can use focus settings or restrict access to distracting apps. Schools and colleges can also establish clear policies that distinguish educational use from unrelated phone activity.
Finding the Right Balance
Phones are neither entirely harmful nor automatically helpful in education. Their impact depends on how they are used and the learning environment in which they are used. The study suggests that reducing unnecessary phone use during lessons may help some students focus better. A practical approach is to protect classroom learning time while preserving appropriate access to digital tools when they genuinely support education.
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