While smartphones have become near-ubiquitous extensions of teenage life, their role within the school environment remains deeply contested. On one hand, they offer connection, convenience, and access to information; on the other, they can fragment attention, erode interpersonal communication, and heighten anxiety. As educators and wellbeing advocates, we're constantly balancing the developmental needs of adolescents with the evolving digital landscape. Is our responsibility to integrate technology meaningfully, or to create intentional space away from it?

In this first episode of the new-look GAP podcast, we explore some of the rationale for schools deciding to go phone-free. We also hear from the students themselves - it's important to hear what our main stakeholders have to say!

Many schools around the world have already gone phone-free. We have been waiting and watching, but it looks like the time has come to pull the plug, bite the bullet, take the plunge - the transition is going to be interesting indeed!

Parents, educators and students can learn a lot from this fact-packed episode.

Tools like Bricked or Forest are excellent conversation starters with your children about how they can self-manage device use healthily.