New statistics show that the presence of small screens has increased in children’s lives, with one in four children spending more than 20 hours a week on screen-based devices. The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) released new statistics on April 21 after analysing how much time children spend in front of a screen by tracking…

Mobile phones will be banned in New South Wales (NSW) high school classrooms if the Labor party wins the next state election in March. A blanket ban on phones is already in place in primary schools but is optional for high schools to implement. NSW Labor Leader Chris Minns said he would extend the blanket…

An Australian high school has reported dramatic improvements in student behaviour in just eight weeks after implementing a firm ban on cell phones. Among the seventh to tenth-grade students (ages 12 to 16), Davidson High School’s principal David Rule saw a 90 percent reduction in behavioural issues related to phones in the school, such as bullying,…

A South Australian Police (SAPOL) operation has found that twice as many drivers were caught using their mobile phones last week as compared to a week in January. Operation Fatal Distraction, conducted statewide from March 21 to 27, focused on motorists committing distraction-based offences related to mobile phone use. During the seven day period, 257…

At first, Dr. Robert Zorowitz thought his 83-year-old mother was confused. She couldn’t remember passwords to accounts on her computer. She would call and say programs had stopped working. But over time, Zorowitz realized his mother—a highly intelligent woman who was comfortable with technology—was showing early signs of dementia. Increasingly, families will encounter similar concerns…

Mobile phone bans and other measures to promote “calm classrooms” will be considered as part of a consultation on behaviour and discipline in schools. Education Secretary Gavin Williamson said he wants to make the school day mobile-free, describing the devices as “not just distracting” but also potentially “damaging” when misused. The idea is being considered…

Recent price increases by the three biggest telco companies mean millions of Australians will be paying more for their mobile phone plans. New analysis by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) has found that since July 2020, Telstra, Optus, and Vodafone has pushed up the prices of many post-paid plans. These three telco companies…

Suzuki’s Spanish MotoGP rider Alex Rins revealed on Thursday the injury that ruled him out of his home Catalan grand prix this month was caused by riding his bicycle into a van while messaging on a mobile phone. “Normally I’m not playing with the mobile when I’m on my bicycle unless I’m writing an important…

An Australia-first study has found that 99.2 percent of Aussies have “nomophobia” or the fear of being without their phone. Researchers from BehaviourWorks Australia found in their study that as reliance on the device for everyday activities increases, a new phenomenon is emerging: nomophobia, or no mobile phone phobia. Lead researcher of the study, Ph.D. candidate…

Even if you don’t know what nomophobia is, there’s a 99.2 percent chance you’ve got it. An Australian-first study has measured the fear of being without a mobile phone, finding nearly everyone with a mobile has it. For more than one in 10, the phobia is so severe it leads to dependent or even dangerous…