Rasmus Meyer, chair of Denmark’s Wellbeing Commission, argues that schools should be sanctuaries free from the distractions of digital platforms. “Giving young people a pause from online life teaches them how to engage in analogue communities and strengthens their attention spans,” he explains. His commission, which investigated rising dissatisfaction among children and young people, sounded the alarm on the increasing digitalisation of childhood. Among its 35 recommendations was a call for legislation prohibiting phones in schools and after-school clubs, a policy the Danish government has now pledged to enforce nationwide.

Even more striking, the commission suggested that children under 13 should not own a smartphone or tablet at all. “If we find out in five years that it was better with the phones, we can bring them back—but I don’t think that will be the case,” Meyer stated, calling for EU-wide regulation on the issue.

The reasoning is clear: Schools should be spaces of learning and interaction, not playgrounds for digital consumption. Studies have shown that children in phone-free schools have better attention spans, engage more with their peers, and are noticeably quieter during lessons. Without the constant lure of notifications and social media, they rediscover traditional play and face-to-face conversation—skills essential for their development.

Denmark’s move is part of a larger pushback against the creeping commercialisation of childhood. Meyer highlights the staggering statistic that 94% of young Danes have a social media profile before turning 13—despite age restrictions on many platforms—and that kids aged 9 to 14 spend an average of three hours daily on TikTok and YouTube.

“If we wouldn’t allow kids to bring a PlayStation into the classroom, why do we let them bring smartphones that offer the same level of distraction?” Meyer asks. He argues that while society places great emphasis on children’s physical safety, their digital well-being is often neglected. “It’s shocking that we accept kids spending 8 to 10 hours a day on their phones. We wouldn’t tolerate that kind of exposure in the real world.”

One school that has embraced the no-phone policy since 2018 is Skolen på Grundtvigsvej in Copenhagen. Headteacher Helle Bjerg describes the rule as simple but effective: students surrender their phones upon arrival and get them back at the end of the day. The results? More engaged students, more conversation, and fewer distractions. Even after-school clubs have followed suit, discouraging mobile use with signs that read: “Give yourself a good break from your mobile phone” and the sobering reminder: “Mobiles aren’t going away, but friendship networks can.”

The effects have been undeniable. Hjalte Petersen, a pedagogue at the school, recalls a time when children sat alone, glued to their screens. “Many were just in their own world,” he says. Now, without the digital barrier, they play together, interact, and build stronger social bonds. “If you take the screen away, they have to do something else—and that something is connecting with each other.”

As Denmark takes a stand, the question remains: will the rest of Europe follow? If the goal is to raise a generation capable of deep focus, meaningful relationships, and a life beyond the screen, the answer should be a resounding yes.

Photo by cottonbro studio from Pexels