Today, cell phones have become much more than before. These are now high-tech computers in our pockets, equipped with operating systems, which allow us to use planners such as schedules, take photos with built-in cameras and relax through the use of entertainment systems and audio-video capabilities, all in the palm of our hands. People use mobile phones to stay in touch with family and friends and with Internet connectivity, users can now browse the web to its full potential, no matter where they are. However, the role of mobile phones in educational settings needs to be closely examined, as educators strive to integrate mobile learning devices into classrooms. Therefore, schools must not only assess their curriculum, but also recognize the power of digital devices to engage, empower and empower millennials. The governments of Victoria and New South Wales have proposed to education ministers to prohibit the use of cell phones during class hours. The ban was promoted as a plan to combat negative behavior attributed to cell phone use. Cell phone use should not be allowed in schools because it contributes to classroom distractions, promotes cyberbullying, and encourages the normalization of cheating. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get an Original EssayThe use of cell phones in the classroom environment can be distracting from student learning. These distractions are caused by excessive use and checking of social media, texting friends, and gaming. When students play with their phones during class, it can also distract other students who are trying to learn. This can further cause disruption in the classroom as teachers constantly ask students to turn off their cell phones. In Australia, teachers face challenges related to mobile phone use. A survey by the University of Nebraska-Lincoln indicates that students spend more than 11 times a day checking their phones. Specifically, texting, emailing, surfing the web, checking social media, and even playing games. These results show the harmful impact and distracting nature of cell phones when they are in the possession of students. “Unfortunately, teachers and school administrators end up facing problems that disrupt the school environment generated by behaviors that occur outside of the school setting” (Trim, 2010). This quote shows how teachers are negatively impacted by students using cell phones for purposes other than academic productivity. Additionally, new research suggests that using electronic devices in the classroom can lower students' grades. This can significantly affect the percentage of students who are currently failing subjects due to negligence and distraction in their pockets. This also affects other students enrolled in the same class as the device users. Due to the distracting environment they are subjected to, these students perform lower even though they used a device during class. The use of cell phones in schools isincreasingly linked to cyberbullying. According to Smith et al. (2008), “Cyberbullying is an intentional aggressive act perpetrated by a group or individual, using forms of electronic contact, in a repeated and prolonged manner, against a victim who cannot easily defend themselves. » Students attempt to achieve this by sending hurtful text messages, sending threatening photos and videos, including gleeful slapping (a group of people assaulting a random stranger while filming the incident on a cell phone). “Cyberbullying among school-aged children is on the rise” (Selwyn, 2019, p. 2). “The evidence for this is that rates of cyberbullying have increased among the school age group (12-17 years).” A survey by 'Tell Them From Me' (NSW Government website) shows that in 2018, around 15% of NSW public secondary school students surveyed reported being victims of cyberbullying one or more times in the last four weeks. These statistics reveal the damaging potential of cell phone use and how they can be used for the wrong and hurtful purposes, contributing to the huge, complex and major problem that is cyberbullying. Trim (2010) states: "While the sharing of inappropriate images has been around since the invention of the camera, mobile phones make it easier to quickly share photos with hundreds of people via direct messaging and then upload them to social networking sites.” In practice, this can be identified as “sexting” among today’s youth. It involves students sending nude photos of known or unknown people to other phone users. Issues like sexting are just one of the many ways students use cell phones for negative purposes. Additionally, cell phones can encourage students to cheat. In fact, when students have a cell phone in their possession during an exam, they are tempted to cheat by looking for answers that are so easy to obtain. Teachers can often be challenged when trying to identify when this is happening. According to a Pew Research Center study, 35% of teenagers admit to using their cell phones to cheat on exams. This alarming statistic reveals how easily and effortlessly students can perform these actions during exams, choosing to take easy options by searching for answers on their phones without getting caught. According to the BBC (2019), candidates do not realize that simply having a mobile phone on them (even if they are not actually using their phone) while taking an exam is a breach of the rules and therefore an academic misconduct, which must be reported to the examination committee. This shows how lightly students view cheating and how easy it is to break the law. Cheating in most schools has become commonplace. Many students do not consider getting responses via text messages to be academic misconduct. “Additionally, cheating practices have made schools more concerned about promoting cell phone use.” A blanket ban on cell phone use in schools alone will not be enough to completely prevent cyberbullying, eliminate classroom distractions, and stop cheating. Students should be well informed on how to use cell phones responsibly and know that these actions are immoral and illegal acts that should have consequences, legal or otherwise, to help correct the behaviors.,/337260621