"Better grades"

Los Angeles wants to ban smartphones in schools

The US metropolis of Los Angeles wants to completely ban the use of smartphones in schools. The school board voted on Tuesday to ban cell phones in all schools in the city of millions.

The schools were instructed to draw up rules to ban cell phones and online media during school hours. Schools that have already banned cell phones have reported "incredible results," said school board member Nick Melvoin.

"Kids are happier, they're talking to each other, their grades are improving," Melvoin said. In its decision, the school board referred to research findings that excessive cell phone use in adolescents is associated with stress, depression, anxiety, sleep problems, aggression and suicidal thoughts.

Call for warnings
Earlier this week, the head of the US Public Health Service called for warning labels for online services similar to those on cigarette packets. It was "time" to warn that such platforms were "associated with significant psychological harm to young people", explained doctor Vivek Murthy.

A few hours before the Los Angeles school board's decision, California Governor Gavin Newsom had spoken out in favor of stricter cell phone rules in the state's schools. A corresponding law is currently being debated in the Californian parliament. There are similar plans in six other US states.