A “revolutionary” new device that stops kids from using their phones at school has become increasingly popular.
For some teachers, the invention of the smartphone has brought them nothing but trouble and some surveys have concluded they have a negative impact on a teenager’s ability to learn.
Some schools have since decided to ban their use entirely during the school day and have enlisted the help of a new device to help them.
“This is revolutionary,” journalist Mary McCarthy explained to The Hard Shoulder.
“There’s this company called Yondr and they make these pouches.
“There was one Irish school [using them] in the academic year of 2021 and now there’s 50 schools at a minimum - there could be a lot more.
“So, I predict this is going to absolutely explode as some parents see other schools have them.”
2CE9TAY Schoolboy teenager boy with mobile phone standing at school on backgroundMc McCarthy’s daughter’s school has them and the technology behind the pouches is relatively simple.
“It’s a cloth pouch and every child gets a pouch,” she said.
“You put your phone in and it’s got room for a smartwatch and basically the phone automatically locks with a really strong magnet.
“You can’t open it unless you tap it on a circular unlocking base.
“So, at registration in the morning, everyone’s going to have to pouch up and at the end of day they tap to open it on one of these magnetic unlocking bases around the school.
“It’s genius.”
2ACBCKY Teenager in school classroomThere are hacks to get around the device that can be found on TikTok but a lot of teenagers support what their schools are doing.
Some have burner phones that they don’t put in the pouch but others say they feel “relieved” to be away from their devices.
“There seems to be a sort of surprising buy-in from the students,” Ms McCarthy said.
Main image: School pupils on their phones. Picture by: Alamy.com
