Last year, after Finland implemented a law allowing schools to ban students' use of smartphones, life became significantly easier at the country's middle schools.
All seven school principals who spoke with Yle about the matter said the effect of the mobile device ban has been positive.
They said students are more sociable, bullying has significantly decreased and the change can even be seen in school hallways.
"Students look each other in the eye and say hello. This makes me happy – we've regained eye contact and greetings," said Hanna Alava, principal at the Salpausselän middle school in Lahti.
Henry Leppäaho, principal of Seinäjoki's Nurmo Middle School, agreed.
"Students' discussions and interaction have clearly increased," he said, adding that nowadays students are looking around everywhere besides their phones.
More IRL games
The smartphone ban also boosted interest in in-real-life activities, according to the principal at Joensuu's Lyseon Lukio upper secondary school, Anna Renko.
"We bought board games and ping pong equipment. They're in heavy use," Renko said.
The students at Rovaniemi's Napapiiri school have rediscovered old ways of spending their time, according to principal Tiina Mölläri.
"Playing cards and board games started appearing in hallways and tables. Some students crochet, knit or draw. I've been pleased to see the children and young people chatting more," she said.
Less bullying
The educators also noticed another positive development — less bullying.
"In the past, almost all bullying incidents were somehow related to social media posts and [students secretly taking photos]. There's much less to investigate these days," said Mari Liikanen, principal at Emäkosken middle school in Nokia.
Principal Alava in Lahti echoed those sentiments, saying that the surreptitious photography had substantially decreased.
Without staring at their small screens, students seem to be noticing their lonelier peers, the principals said.
"There are hardly any students who spend breaks alone anymore. Almost everyone has found some kind of group," principal Liikanen said.
But there are two sides to that situation in Seinäjoki, according to principal Leppäaho.
Now that they aren't always engrossed with scrolling on their phones, students feel a positive pressure to make friends and maintain friendships. On the other hand, Leppäaho said, the smartphone ban can accentuate that a student doesn't have friends to hang out with.
"But it's good that a student can be included in the student support system more quickly, because these days it is harder to hide behind a cell phone," Leppäaho said.
Edited at 14:26 on 27 February 2026, to change the main photo from kids using smartphones to one showing youths playing a board game.
