This paper serves as an up-to-date survey on the effects of smartphones on young people both inside and outside of classrooms. The prolific use of smartphones amongst school-aged youth is a global phenomenon that is attracting the attention of parents, teachers, and policymakers. Smartphones, and the social media applications accessible on them, are the source of a number of problems for kids; this paper details those problems and demonstrates that smartphones pose a threat to children’s education and overall sense of well-being.

Specifically, this paper notes that since around 2012, smartphone use has become incredibly widespread. Since this time a number of concomitant trends have accompanied the salience of the smartphone, namely: decreases in academic performance and children’s ability to focus, and increasing mental health issues. Today, children are bombarded by both internal and external distractions when they are trying to learn. Some studies have also linked recreational screen time to suboptimal academic outcomes. Social media is another major concern for parents and policymakers as it has been linked to decreased self-esteem and increased rates of cyber-bullying. This paper also examines how these online networking platforms are negatively affecting youth.

Finally, this paper reviews a number of policies in place internationally that are attempting to neutralize the unfortunate externalities that accompany unbridled cell phone use in schoolchildren. This section prefaces a survey of Canada’s current smartphone policy landscape. The paper concludes with three recommendations for domestic policymakers to consider in order to improve the current situation.