Ontario may ban cellphones outright in schools

Kids and cellphones

Ontario is considering an outright ban on cellphones in schools, and is looking at restricting social media for kids under a certain age, Ontario Education Minister Paul Calandra says.

“We’re reflecting on a wider ban on cellphones. I think the evidence is becoming more and more clear that cellphone use in our schools – elementary and our secondary schools – anywhere on site, has become a problem,” Calandra told reporters during an announcement about building new schools in the London, Ont. area Tuesday.

The comment came after Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew said recently that his province would move to become the first province to ban kids from using social media.

Asked whether the Ontario government would consider something similar, Calandra said “absolutely” but added that Manitoba is not going far enough.

“We are going to be working closely with the federal government with respect to a broader social media ban, frankly, for kids under a certain age. I know the federal government is interested in that,” Calandra said.

“We’re reviewing what Manitoba has done. I think it’s a good opportunity for us in Ontario, but doesn’t go necessarily as far as we would like it to go, but it is a good step.”

It wasn’t immediately clear what part of Manitoba’s plan would not go far enough. The province has not yet publicly unveiled all the details of its proposed restrictions.

There has been growing public concern in recent years about the potential harms of social media for kids, including the addictive nature of the platform, exposure to online predators and cyberbullying.

In terms of the cellphone ban, Calandra said there would be exemptions for health and other valid reasons.

In 2024, Ontario moved to restrict cellphone use during school hours. Students in kindergarten to Grade 6 have to keep phones on silent and out of sight for the entire school day, while those in Grades 7 to 12 cannot use their phones during class time unless explicitly allowed by the teacher.