Video | From prohibiting them even during recess to considering them a tool for the safety of children: how do other countries regulate the use of cell phones in classrooms?

The debate on the use of mobile phones in classrooms has opened after the Ministry of Education proposed restricting their presence in educational centers in December 2023. But Spain is not the first country to consider its regulation. A 2023 UNESCO study indicates that one in seven countries has banned the use of mobile phones in educational centers by law. In 2018, France was one of the pioneers in Europe by prohibiting its use by law until

(the equivalent of 3rd ESO), due to the "serious" harm it can cause for teaching. China joined this initiative in 2021. In the case of the United States there are differences between States, although some parents raise questions related to the safety of children in emergency situations. In the video that accompanies this news, EL PAÍS correspondents in these countries - Iker Seisdedos from Washington, Guillermo Abril from Beijing and Marc Bassets from Paris - detail how the use of mobile phones is regulated in these three territories.