Phone and Socials Restriction Transform School’s Climate

Albanese’s intention to introduce a minimum age limit for social media use was always going to be controversial; one camp says it’ll save kids from being damaged online, the other that it cut them off from the prevailing culture.

But schools that were early movers in banning phones, with limiting access to socials the logical extension of that, say leaving phones at home or locked away for the school day has been transformative, mostly in a positive way.

Loreto College Marryatville Principal Kylie McCullah, feels protecting children’s mental health and wellbeing is priority. Loreto College Marryatville has successfully implemented a ‘No Phone Policy’ for the past two years, resulting in noticeable improvements in student focus and academic outcomes.

McCullah strongly supports the proposed age restrictions for social media and believes that increasing the minimum age for access will help mitigate the growing concerns around anxiety, depression, and body image issues, particularly among young girls.

“We believe that fostering a balanced relationship with technology is crucial. There is clear evidence of the benefits of the mobile phone policy adopted at Loreto College Marryatville several years ago. Our students have more opportunities to socialise and make new friends, they are more attentive, focused, and productive in class.

“Since implementing the policy, we’ve seen enhanced social connections during breaks, and a renewed sense of community. This contributes positively to the overall wellbeing and academic performance of our students. Loreto College Marryatville remains committed to creating an environment that nurtures both academic success and the emotional wellbeing of our students,” she says.

Loreto College recognises the impact of social media on today’s students is profound, offering both opportunities for connection and creativity but also posing serious challenges. Students face growing pressures from cyberbullying, social comparison, and the relentless draw of screen time, which often distracts from their academic and personal development. In response, educators are navigating a landscape filled with online harassment, misinformation, and the challenge of setting professional boundaries in the digital world.

These issues have become concerns in the classroom, where social media can disrupt learning and hinder interpersonal growth. To address these complexities, Loreto College is committed to supporting its staff with ongoing professional development, empowering them with tools and strategies to tackle these modern-day challenges head-on.

“New, stronger safety measures, such as more rigorous age verification processes and enhanced parental controls, must be exercised and implemented for real safety to be delivered,” says McCullah.

The school’s decision to actively engage and consult students during the development of its phone policy played a key role in its success. The feedback from students showed overwhelming support for upholding the ban, as many felt relieved from the social pressure of phone usage during school hours.

“The feedback from the girls was rather than changing our policy regarding being allowed to access their phones at school, the girls wanted us to uphold our policy of no phones at school. Teenagers find themselves under a lot of social pressure when it comes to phone usage and by having a no phone rule, the girls found this much easier as they didn’t need to conform to peer pressure.”

A key component to Loreto College’s integration of the ban was implicitly teaching students responsible phone usage. This important topic is a core focus of the school’s Social, Emotional and Academic Development (SEAD) Program where students not only reflect on positive phone usage but how to keep safe online and deconstruct the many images, they will see online so that they do not judge themselves against them causing further mental health issues surrounding body image.

McCullah supports increasing the minimum age requirement for accessing these platforms, despite this, she says mobile phones and social media do have an important part to play in educational settings, albeit not in the classroom.

“Smartphones offer access to a wealth of educational resources, productivity apps, and interactive learning platforms. Students are not permitted access to their mobile phone during regular school hours, unless under the explicit supervision of their teacher for educational purposes.”