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Russia to Enforce Smartphone Ban During School Lessons Starting September 2026

From September 1, 2026, Russian school students will be prohibited from using mobile phones during classes under a new ministerial order from the Ministry of Education. The restriction, already outlined in federal law, will be detailed by the order to specify its application in schools, according to Minister Sergey Kravtsov. Phones may only be used in emergencies, such as threats to life or health of students and teachers. Activities like messaging, gaming, social media access, or using AI tools for quick answers are explicitly not permitted. Schools retain flexibility on phone use during breaks, allowing individual institutions to set their own rules. The Ministry of Digital Development has confirmed no nationwide ban on social networks for minors is planned, leaving platforms like TikTok and Telegram accessible outside class hours.

AntiMalwareTranslated from Russian

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Starting September 1, 2026, Russian school students will face a formal ban on using mobile phones during lessons, with the measure to be enshrined in a departmental order from the Ministry of Education.

Minister Sergey Kravtsov announced that the new rules will clarify existing federal legislation on device usage in educational settings. Students will be allowed to access smartphones only in genuine emergencies, such as situations posing a direct threat to the life or health of pupils or staff, he told TASS.

Everyday activities including messaging, playing games, browsing social networks, or attempting to query AI tools for answers during class will remain strictly prohibited under the forthcoming order.

The policy stops short of removing smartphones from schools entirely. During breaks, students may use their devices according to rules set by each individual educational institution, meaning some schools could permit immediate access after the bell while others may extend restrictions until the end of the school day.

Earlier statements from the Ministry of Digital Development indicated that authorities have no plans to introduce a general prohibition on social media use by minors. As a result, platforms such as TikTok and Telegram will continue to be available outside of lesson time.

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