The Brazilian government has banned the use of smartphones in schools

Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva has signed a law banning the use of smartphones in schools.

The law includes provisions governing the use of smartphones in schools. Those who will be allowed to use them are those with urgent needs or those with disabilities.

Education Minister Camilo Santana told reporters that the law will help parents monitor their children’s access to the Internet at a young age, where they can encounter harmful content.

He said, “We want their use to be based mainly on lessons and under the guidance of a teacher, as is the case in many countries.”

The bill has been supported by many political parties, both on the side of President Lula and his opponents, who are on the side of Brazil’s Jair Bolsonaro, as well as by parents of students.

A survey conducted by Pollster Datafolha, a research firm in Brazil, found that a third of respondents expressed their support for the law because modern smartphones are harmful to students.