Smartphone-Free Schools in the Canton of Zurich: For more focus and togetherness
TO: THE CANTON OF ZURICH, ITS MUNICIPALITIES, AND ALL PRIMARY, SEK AND GYMNASIUM.
IN BRIEF
Our children have the right to peace, focus, and genuine human connection at school. But today, most of them, especially in the secondary level, spend their breaks and sometimes even class time on their smartphones or other recreational screens.
• Chatting online instead of taking notes.
• Gaming instead of playing ping-pong.
• ChatGPT instead of thinking.
• Snapchat and TikTok instead of talking to each other.
We say: Enough is enough!
School should be a place where learning and social interactions are the focus — without constant digital distractions. Smartphones and recreational screens should be kept away from students during the entire school day.
WHAT WE DEMAND
We call on the Canton of Zurich, its municipalities and school administrations to implement binding rules at all public schools, applying to all students through the end of secondary school (students aged15-16 yrs):
1📵 Smartphones and smartwatches are to be securely stored at the beginning of the school day - e.g., in lockers or Yondr pouches. Students have no access to these devices throughout the school day - not even during breaks - as long as they are on the school grounds.
2💻 Tablets and laptops, whether school-provided or BYOD (Bring Your Own Device), may be used for educational purposes only. Access to recreational websites must be blocked (by schools/IT departments).
3☎️ Children and parents can communicate through the school office.
4💊 Exceptions for medical emergencies are, of course, allowed.
5📢 Children and parents are clearly informed and regularly reminded about the rules. The benefits of a smartphone-free school day are explained. Parents are expected to actively support these rules. Schools should also strengthen media education as part of the curriculum.
These guidelines apply only while on school grounds (not on the way to or from school, during transport, during lunch time when spent outside of school etc.).
WHY THIS PETITION MATTERS
Without screen distractions, learning performance, social interaction, and mental well-being all improve..
Studies show: Even a switched-off phone in a bag reduces concentration.
Children need real mental breaks for effective learning - not endless scrolling or gaming.
Some schools are reporting increased restlessness, distraction, and even cyberbullying. Measures can reduce or eliminate these issues.
No matter where people stand on the benefits or harms of smartphones and personal digital devices, one thing is undeniable: digital distractions steal time that should belong to learning, movement, and human interaction during the school day.
THE REALITY IN OUR SCHOOLS TODAY: CONSTANT DISTRACTION INSTEAD OF FOCUS
Children and teens - especially from secondary level onward - are online nonstop, even during school. During breaks, in hallways, free periods, and sometimes even during class, smartphones, social media, and games dominate.
Tablets and laptops, intended for learning, are being misused.
Instead of studying, students are chatting online and gaming.
Instead of talking to friends, endless scrolling.
School becomes just an extension of their digital entertainment feed.
Some schools have already tried to address this issue - but with limited success (requesting that smartphones are switched off and made “invisible” for instance). However, this is not enough.
The consequences are serious:
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Focus suffers, academic performance drops.
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Real conversations and physical activity almost disappear from the school day.
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AI is used improperly during tests.
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Cyberbullying and access to violent or sexual content increases.
What many parents aren’t aware of: children often spend hours on recreational screens before they even get home. And the shocking part? Much of this screen use goes unnoticed — even by the school.
Smartphones, when “forbidden”, are secretly used under desks, in bathrooms, or during free time. Even officially allowed devices, like tablets, are often used for entertainment - with little oversight.
This constant online content availability isn’t a minor issue — it’s changing the social environment of our schools and the abilities of our children and teens to develop and function well.
CHILDREN HAVE A RIGHT TO A SCHOOL WITHOUT ONLINE DISTRACTIONS
Children need boundaries, guidance, and an environment that protects and empowers them while teaching them healthy digital habits. They need focus, movement, real conversations - not constant overstimulation from social media and games.
Schools can - and must - set an example.
We say: Now is the time for clear rules.
For peace. For concentration. For real breaks.
For schools that truly feel like schools again.
A conscious break from digital noise - 6 to 10 hours a day without Snapchat, games, Youtube and TikTok - has many benefits.
In schools where a “Handy Pause” has already been introduced, the results speak for themselves:
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better academic performance
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more social interaction
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less cyberbullying
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less stress
Students themselves feel the difference — and many don’t even want to go back.
📣 Sign the petition (in German, online on Campax.org) today and share it with other parents, teachers, and concerned citizens.
📩 This petition will be shared with municipal, cantonal, and school authorities in the Canton of Zurich.
FAQ – Frequently Asked Questions and Push-backs
How can kids access bus/train schedules or other important info during the day?
The rules apply only on school grounds, not during the commute.
How can parents contact their children — and vice versa?
Via the school office. Just like before - simple and reliable.
What about medical exceptions?
Individual solutions will of course be found through conversations with school leadership.
How do you deal with the lunch break when children leave the school grounds?
As soon as children leave the school grounds, they are of course allowed to use their smartphones/smartwatches again. Parents who want to give their children a sustained break from screens can do this - ideally in consultation with other parents in the class - by restricting access to essential functions (paying for lunch, making phone calls, maps, etc.). Screen time management apps such as Apple Screen Time, Qustodio or Google Family Link are available to support this approach.
Can’t we just teach kids media competences?
Yes, but that's not enough.Yes, but not with constant availability. Even we, as adults, often struggle with our smartphone use. Children need clear boundaries AND guidance. It is clear that in parallel, new media education in schools needs to be further developed and strengthened, with the goal of helping children understand the importance of managing their screen time and educating them about both the opportunities and risks associated with digital media.
Why not just have them turn their phones off?
This rule is often broken - under the desk, in the bathroom, during free time.Studies also show that even a switched-off phone in a bag can impair focus and cognitive performance.(See: “Brain Drain: The Mere Presence of One’s Own Smartphone Reduces Available Cognitive Capacity”, 2017, Ward, Duke, Gneezy, Bos).Only securely storing the phone away from the children truly helps.
Aren’t these measures too hard to implement?
In practice, many schools in Switzerland and around the world have successfully implemented similar measures with minimal effort. The key is having principals, teachers, and parents aligned on a shared goal, clear communication of the rules, and - if needed - progressive consequences.
Isn’t this an infringement on students’ freedom?
Schools regulate many things in the name of the common good, like punctuality, behavior, homework. A “Handy Pause” is simply another way to protect the learning environment. And: once school is over, the devices are theirs again.
What if kids get bored during breaks?
Movement, analog games, conversations, music, drawing, sports — the possibilities are there. Schools might have to get a bit more equipped to offer alternatives.
We do not think smartphones should be used during morning or afternoon breaks in order to protect the benefits of a true pause.
These pauses should be a time for students to talk, play, and move — not for screen time. Smartphone use often leads to social withdrawal, and research shows that it takes longer to regain focus after online distractions, which can affect the lesson that follows.
Won’t students just break the rules anyway?
Some might. But most go along — especially once they realize how much better the break feels.What matters most: clear rules, strong communication, and parental support.
STAY INFORMED!
Further information about the "Handy Pause" movement—which advocates for a school day free of recreational screens—as well as practical ways for schools to quickly implement this measure, will be available soon.