Smartphones reduce students’ concentration and interest in learning

raportcsr.pl 3 days ago

Smartphones limit students' interest in learning. The non-educational presence of smartphones and another screen devices at home and at school importantly reduces the concentration and interest of students in learning – according to a nationwide survey conducted among almost a 1000 students, their teachers and parents.

The uneducational presence of smartphones, computers and televisions in the surroundings of children and young people importantly reduces their interest in learning, impaired concentration and educational rhythm – according to investigation conducted by scientists from the Institute of Psychology of the School of Vocational Education in cooperation with the Foundation of the Human Bonus. task manager was Dr. Prof. WSKZ Mariusz Jędrzejko.

Smartphones and computers accompany students while learning at home

Preliminary data show that more than 74% of primary school students and 95% of secondary school students have smartphones or computers switched on during home education even erstwhile these devices are not utilized for educational purposes.

Using smartphones in school lessons

Nearly 39 percent of primary school students and 79 percent of secondary schools have active smartphones during school lessons. At the same time, 21% of primary and 45% of secondary schools admit that uses smartphones during non-educational classes, mainly to support communicators and social media.

The survey shows that communicators and social networking sites are the most powerful factors that bring students out of educational rhythm.

Digital multitasking reduces learning efficiency

More than 31 percent of primary school students and 68% of secondary school students declare that while studying at home, they besides perceive to music, watch tv or content published on social media. According to the authors, this leads to frequent interruption of learning and to a simplification in the efficiency of learning.

At the same time, nearly half of the respondents admit that their homes do not have the rule of "first science, later entertainment" and digital activities not related to education are taken respective times during afternoon learning.

Internet and artificial intelligence as the main sources of student knowledge

Almost 29 percent of primary school students and more than half of secondary school students respect the net as the basic and frequently the only origin of cognition utilized in the learning process. At the same time, 29 percent of primary school students and 55 percent of secondary school students did not read a single mandatory reading in 2025, replacing it with net shortcuts or studies produced by artificial intelligence.

Nearly 31 percent of elder students prepare for exams mainly based on materials created by AI tools, without utilizing school textbooks. The authors of the survey emphasize that while artificial intelligence can support the educational process, treating it as the only origin of cognition entails a advanced educational risk.

Parental control and rules for the usage of mobile devices

The survey besides shows that in 54 percent of primary school pupils' homes and in 24 percent of secondary school pupils' homes, parents established clear rules for the usage of mobile devices. Parental control programmes are active in 62% of primary school students and little than 19% of secondary school pupils, with half of the younger students declaring that they can avoid them.

Screen equipment impairs the quality of sleep and the well-being of students

The survey confirms the strong link between the usage of screen equipment and sleep quality. Almost 1 3rd of primary school students and 72 percent of secondary school students complete digital activity after 23:00, 11 and 28 percent after midnight, respectively.

This leads, as the authors indicate, to shorten the deep sleep phase responsible, among others, for memory processes crucial for effective learning. Nearly half of the subjects are experiencing symptoms of a reduced temper and a worsening relation with parents, which affect excessive usage of screen technologies.

No smartphones in schools? Voice of teachers and parents

More than 95% of teachers and parents participating in focus interviews advocated the introduction of a top-down ban on smartphones in primary schools. In secondary schools, teachers more frequently pointed to the request to draw up a contract on this substance for schools with students.

The request for media education and clear rules in schools

According to the authors of the study, without intensifying the media education of parents and students and without introducing clear rules for the presence of smartphones in schools, these phenomena will deepen, negatively affecting educational outcomes, intellectual health, the professional and social future of the young generation.

National methodology

The survey was conducted from September to December 2025 on a nationwide example of 998 primary and secondary school students and 202 teachers and parents. Surveys, in-depth and focus interviews were used.

Source: == sync, corrected by elderman ==Mira Suchodolska (PAP)