TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Taiwan’s education ministry on Wednesday proposed new regulations limiting student cellphone use in schools, with different guidelines for high school students and those in middle school or younger.

Under the draft proposal, students in middle school and below would need permission from a legal guardian to bring a cellphone to school, per CNA. Once on campus, their phones would be centrally managed by the school or by individual classes. Students would be required to turn off their phones during class to avoid disrupting lessons.

High school students would not need parental permission, but each school would be expected to work with teachers, parents, and students to set its cellphone policy. The ministry emphasized that schools should still inform parents about the agreed-upon rules.

The ministry also responded to calls from the student group EdYouth, which urged that restrictions target class time only, rather than applying to the entire school day, per CNA. The ministry reiterated that while younger students must keep phones off during lessons, high schools can determine specific rules.

A study published in The Lancet examined the effects of cellphone restrictions on UK middle school students and found little difference in academic performance, classroom behavior, physical activity, cellphone use, or sleep, between schools with strict rules and those with more relaxed policies, per PNN. Lead author Victoria Goodyear said the findings reflect the limitations of school-only cellphone restrictions in addressing the broader negative effects of digital overuse.

Goodyear noted that while the study’s findings were inconclusive, existing data consistently show a link between high cellphone and social media use and declines in academic performance, mental health, and sleep quality. She recommended policies aimed at reducing overall cellphone use, not just during school hours.

A separate study by the Child Welfare League Foundation found that more than half of Taiwan’s middle school students feel stressed about their future, per a Child Welfare League Foundation article. Those experiencing stress are twice as likely to struggle with emotional regulation. The study also reported that Taiwanese teens spend an average of five hours per day on social media, with one-third considered addicted.

The foundation argued that expecting improvements from students who temporarily give up their phones without addressing underlying stress and academic pressure is unrealistic. Instead, it urged parents and educators to offer more emotional support and guidance.

While research shows that limiting screen time can improve focus, the foundation emphasized that helping students develop healthier phone habits is more practical than enforcing strict bans in a digitally connected world.