Kids can check their phones up to 100 times a day — but making schools phone-free could cut the time they spend on them by 20 per cent, according to research.
So why aren't we banning them in schools?
Well, we are — kind of.
There's no national policy, so every state and territory besides Queensland has their own rules for phones in state schools, and three states have blanket bans at government-run schools.
Federal Education Minister Jason Clare has said "the time has come" for a national approach, and has promised to discuss it with his state and territory counterparts when they meet in the coming months.
The Queensland government has said it will "take a fresh look" on rules for personal devices.
This week Education Minister Grace Grace tasked former children's commissioner Cheryl Vardon with leading a review into technology use, including phones and smart watches, in schools.
It's due at the end of June.
Currently, in Queensland it's up to each school to decide what they want to do.
Why ban phones in schools?
Students spend up to eight hours a day on devices, Veya Seekis, from Griffith University's School of Applied Psychology, said.
At least 40 per cent of that is on their phone.
Most children get their first phone at about 10, but some students will bring them to school as young as six, Dr Seekis said.
"Students can check their phones up to about 100 times a day," she said.
"If [students] were to not have access to the phone during school time, then we could see as big as a 20 per cent decrease in just using that device."
What are the rules around Australia?
Mobile phones will be banned in New South Wales public high school classrooms, recesses and lunchtimes from term 4. They are currently banned in primary schools, but not high schools.
Phones are banned for primary students in the Northern Territory but secondary students can have phones so long as they are turned off.
Phones are banned in 44 government schools in South Australia.
Victoria, Western Australia and Tasmania have blanket bans in all public schools.
Queensland is the odd one out.
What are the rules in Queensland?
It's up to each school want rules they want to bring in.
The government is now surveying state schools on their current phone policies.
"Many schools have taken the decision to ban mobile phones, and they have been fully supported to do so," Ms Grace told Parliament on Thursday.
What about safety?
Jon Rouse, a Monash University professor and former head of child exploitation task force ARGOS, said a phone ban could also make kids safer.
"We're seeing predatory behaviour happening regretfully and very sadly under the watchful gaze of parents, so it's got to be a heightened risk in a school environment where you've got so many more children and teachers have other duties to perform," Professor Rouse, who is also a detective inspector with Queensland Police, said.
"I as a parent would want my child to have a phone so I can contact them or they can ring me, but I would equally be comfortable with the school taking custody of the device on entering the school grounds and then returning it to the child when they leave," he added.
What do teachers think?
Queensland Teachers' Union President Cresta Richardson said most students did the "right thing" with their phones at school.
"[Students] know the purpose of phones and devices and laptops and all of those sorts of things that can support their learning," she said.
"Our teachers are experts at supporting kids to use the devices appropriately."
But aren't they distracting?
Dr Seekis thinks so, even when they're turned off.
"It's this constant wanting to monitor what's happening on that phone," she said.
"If they have their phones in an inaccessible place close to them then part of their mind is likely to be focused on what's going on the phone."
Dr Seekis said there were early indications phone bans helped students focus.
"States that have already implemented this have actually seen increases in students' wellbeing, in their concentration, even in their exam marks," she said.
"The benefits definitely outweigh anything that might be detrimental.
"Kids will get used to it."
