Most Hungarians Consider the Restriction of Mobile Phone Use in Schools Introduced a Year Ago to Be a Good Idea
Following the practice of several European countries, a unified regulation entered into force in Hungary on 1 September 2024, restricting the use of smart devices during school hours. According to the latest representative survey by the Mária Kopp Institute for Demography and Families (KINCS), two-thirds of Hungarians (66%) believe, based on the experiences of the past school year, that the introduction of mobile-free schools was a good idea. The majority agree with the restriction of mobile phone use in schools, and eight out of ten think that parents themselves should also use their mobile phones less. The survey in July also examined adults’ attitudes towards digital child protection.
The results show that 96 percent of Hungarians have already heard about the restriction of mobile phone use in schools, and based on the first year’s experiences, two-thirds support it, while only 15 percent said they disagreed with limiting smart devices. The reduction of mobile phone use in schools is considered a good decision especially by older generations (78%), families with children (72%), and even more strongly by parents of young children (81%). Parents raising children under 18 reported positive experiences with the restriction of mobile phone use in schools: one-third said their child’s screen time had decreased, and since the introduction of the measure, they have observed positive changes in their child’s life. One-third of parents believe the restriction has met their expectations. The more children a parent has, the more likely they are to think it was a good idea to introduce the restriction. Nine out of ten believe that constant gadget use can cause addiction, and 75 percent agree that excessive mobile use hinders the formation of real communities, which also negatively affects the mental health of young people. According to three-quarters of respondents, mobile phones have no place in schools, except when serving educational purposes. Ninety percent of respondents believe that it is important for parents to set an example and to be more conscious of their children’s mobile phone use. Eight out of ten Hungarians (84%) think that parents themselves should use their mobile phones less, and instead of prohibition, they should teach their children how to use devices consciously.
According to the survey, a significant share of Hungarians also spend a lot of time on their own phones: three out of ten spend at least four hours a day on their devices, while 15 percent spend more than seven hours a day using their phones. Sixty percent of respondents spend at least two hours daily on their devices. Screen time is highest among young people under 30: 58 percent of them use their mobile for more than four hours a day, and 30 percent for more than seven hours. Men use their phones somewhat more than women: two-thirds of men and 57 percent of women spend at least two hours daily on their mobiles. With increasing age, time spent on mobile phones decreases: only 12 percent of those over 65 spend more than four hours a day on their phones. By place of residence, people living in Budapest are the most mobile-dependent, spending twice as much screen time as those living in villages.
Four-fifths of Hungarians believe that children under the age of seven should not be given digital devices. According to 38 percent of respondents, the most appropriate age for introducing digital devices is between 7 and 10 years, while 26 percent said between 11 and 14 years, and 14 percent considered over 14 years of age as ideal. In contrast, one-fifth of respondents believe that children may already use smart devices before the age of seven, and 3 percent even said that smartphone use may be acceptable under the age of three. At the same time, three-quarters of Hungarians think it is problematic if a child under three is given a mobile phone, though one-third of parents with small children consider it acceptable if their child uses a mobile phone for a short period of time.
The restriction of mobile phone use in schools serves the common interests of families, teachers, and students, as it contributes to children’s safety, development, and the effectiveness of learning. PISA surveys and UN research also confirm that in institutions where mobile phones are used exclusively for educational purposes and entertainment use is not a source of distraction, academic performance improves. Experts, however, do not recommend smartphone use for children under the age of three, as it may negatively affect the development of their eyes and nervous system, and may lead to concentration problems. Several studies have also shown that excessive mobile phone use can lead to addiction, impair performance, and weaken young people’s social life and health.
