Srinagar, March 24 -- The rapid expansion of mobile phone bans in schools across the globe is more than a policy trend-it is a reflection of a deepening unease about the digital environment shaping young minds. UNESCO's Global Education Monitoring team has revealed that 114 education systems now enforce national bans, representing 58 percent of countries worldwide. This is a staggering leap from just 24 percent in mid-2023. Within less than three years, the figure has more than doubled, underscoring how swiftly governments are responding to mounting concerns about classroom attention, cyberbullying and the corrosive effects of social media on mental health.

The numbers tell a sobering story. Girls are twice as likely as boys to suffer fr...