A teacher collects a student’s mobile phone, set aside during classes at the Jean Mermoz vocational high school in Montsoult, in the northern suburbs of Paris, on January 14, 2026. (Photo by BERTRAND GUAY / AFP via Getty Images)
New Brunswick is introducing a ban on phone and tablet use at public schools for students at all grade levels, saying the policy aims to reduce distractions and limit exposure to social media.
For students in kindergarten to Grade 8, the policy will take effect in September, and it will apply to students in Grades 9 to 12 starting in February 2027, the government said on Aug. 28. Those in Grades 9 to 12 will still be permitted to use tablets and laptops in line with the province’s Bring Your Own Device program, but only for educational purposes.
Infants at licensed child-care facilities will not be permitted to use electronic devices, while children over two years old will be allowed 30 minutes of screen time per day, under the guidance of an educator, to access content that is educational and age-appropriate.
Social media will be blocked on all school networks and devices in the province from September onward, the government says, and this “will protect children from harmful content and targeted advertising while at school,” Education and Early Childhood Development Minister Claire Johnson said.
Johnson added that the province still intends to make technology part of the curriculum.
“Because we recognize the importance of digital skills and the role of technology in the classroom, New Brunswick’s education system is actively working to prepare students to thrive in a technology-driven world by strengthening digital literacy, critical thinking, online ethics and safety, and digital wellness skills,” she said.
The new policies would align the province with two proposed federal bills—the Safe Social Media Act and An Act to enact the Protecting Privacy and Consumer Data Act—which are currently before Parliament, the government says.
Johnson also compared the policy with similar measures implemented in Ontario and Quebec, saying the results of phone bans in those provinces have been praised by students, teachers, and parents.
In September 2024, Ontario updated an earlier 2019 policy and implemented a ban on phone use during school hours for students from kindergarten through Grade 6, and restricted use to non-instructional times for Grades 7 through 12. The province also blocks social media on school networks and devices as part of its updated policies.
Quebec updated its own policy in September 2025, expanding its ban to cover all school property, including hallways, cafeterias, and grounds, for the full day.
Johnson said that parental support would be key to successfully implementing the ban.
“The support of parents at home will make the biggest difference. Talking with kids about the new expectations before they take effect – and, for high school families, using the first semester to plan how to adjust – will make the transition smoother,” she said.
In a separate news release from New Brunswick Public Schools, Johnson says the new policy would additionally apply to smartwatches, earbuds and headphones, tablets, cameras, and other devices capable of communicating or recording.
Students are also not permitted to use devices to photograph or record students or staff, which would be a violation of school district policy, he said.
Violations of the policy will result in escalating consequences. A first violation will result in the device being held until the end of the school day, along with a warning, documentation, and parent or guardian notification.
For subsequent violations, the device must be retrieved by a parent or guardian, with additional consequences including detention, a digital citizenship reflection, conferences, in-school suspension, and a behaviour contract. Students who commit more than four violations may be prohibited from bringing electronic communication devices to school or district programs for the remainder of the school year, with further disciplinary action possible.