Smartphone Use

More than half of countries have banned phones in schools: Unesco

More than half of the countries have banned phones in schools amid mounting concerns about declining attention in classrooms and cyberbullying, according to the UNSECO's Global Education Monitoring (GEM) team. The team found that girls are twice as likely as boys to suffer from eating disorders exacerbated by social media usage. Facebook's own research revealed that 32 per cent of teenage girls felt worse about their bodies after using Instagram. The report noted alarming trends related to TikTok's algorithm, which targets teenagers with body image content every 39 seconds and promotes content related to eating disorders every eight minutes. "Recent global monitoring shows that 114 education systems now have a national ban on mobile phones in schools, representing 58 per cent of countries worldwide. The expansion has been rapid. Less than 1 in 4 countries (24 per cent) had bans in June 2023, when it was first monitored in the 2023 GEM Report. By early 2025, this had risen to 40 per

Google scaling back Pixel Studio tools, redirecting users to Gemini: Report

Reportedly, Google is phasing out Pixel Studio's AI image tools, shifting generative features to Gemini, Google Photos and Messages with a gradual update rollout

Motorola Edge 70 review: A sleek phone that breezes through daily use

The Motorola Edge 70 leans heavily on a slim, lightweight design, but this review looks at how it performs when used day after day

Google begins wider rollout of call recording feature on Pixel phones

Google starts wider rollout of call recording on Pixel phones, bringing the feature to Pixel 6 and newer models with Android 14

Slouch-sit-scroll: Aiims study says high gadget use reshaping teen bodies

From neck pain to flat feet, Aiims researchers reveal how gadget-glued teens are already showing signs of musculoskeletal strain linked to prolonged screen use

Doomscrolling rewires your brain: Why nonstop bad news feels addictive

Endless negative news may feel unavoidable, but doctors warn doomscrolling can rewire brain pathways, impair decision-making, and fuel anxiety in young professionals

Pings that sting: Why too many phone notifications may be bad for your heart

Doctors warn that constant notifications, late-night alerts and heavy screen time do not just disturb sleep, they spike blood pressure, disrupt rhythm and quietly harm young hearts

Schools tried to ban phones and avoid politics. Then came Kirk's murder

Some students watched the video in the middle of class. Others pulled out their phones as they walked out of school and found themselves watching the videos over and over. Some teachers interrupted lessons to discuss the horrific news. Almost instantly after Charlie Kirk was assassinated Wednesday at Utah Valley University, the news captured on video in grisly detail sent shockwaves through classrooms everywhere. Because no matter teens' political opinions, everyone knew Kirk. In high school classes in Spanish Fork, Utah, chatter spread fast Wednesday, as students learned of the shooting and began to wonder if Kirk would live or die. A cellphone ban meant many students didn't learn of Kirk's fate until the final bell pushing tough conversations in class to the next day. "By the end of the day, I was worn out," said English teacher Andrew Apsley. He discussed the shooting with each of his four classes Thursday at Landmark High School, about 15 miles south of UVU. In the current .

Scrolling on toilet increases your risk of haemorrhoids, new study shows

Prolonged sitting on a toilet seat is believed to increase pressure inside the pelvic floor and lead to blood pooling in the vascular cushions of the anus, making haemorrhoids more likely to develop

Phones in pockets: Could heat and radiation be hurting male fertility?

Carrying your phone in your trouser pocket may be convenient, but doctor says heat and radiation could slowly impact sperm health and fertility

Lava Play Ultra 5G to be launched on Aug 20: Where to watch, what to expect

Lava Play Ultra 5G is to be launched today. Check livestream details, expected specifications and more here

Vivo V60 India launch on Aug 12: Specs, camera, design, livestream details

Vivo V60 with Qualcomm Snapdragon 7 Gen 4, Zeiss telephoto camera, 6,500mAh battery, and IP68/69 rating launches in India on Aug 12. Event to stream live on YouTube at 12 pm

Vivo V60 with Zeiss camera, 6500mAh battery launched in India: Price, specs

Vivo V60 5G debuts in India with Zeiss cameras, Snapdragon 7 Gen 4, 6,500mAh battery, 90W charging, and Google Gemini AI features. Price starts at Rs 36,999

Realme 15 series India launch on July 24: Where to watch and what to expect

Realme will launch the 15 Pro and 15 smartphones in India on July 24. Alongside, the Chinese smartphone maker will launch the T200 wireless earbuds

iQOO Z10R with MediaTek 7400, 50MP camera to launch on July 24 in India

iQOO Z10R launching in India on July 24 with MediaTek Dimensity 7400 chip, 50MP Sony sensor, 4K video support, and a 6.77-inch AMOLED display

Honor X9c 5G phone coming soon to India with MagicOS 9.0: What to expect

Honor X9c 5G is launching soon in India with Qualcomm Snapdragon 6 Gen 1, 108MP camera, 6.78-inch AMOLED display, 6,600mAh battery, and MagicOS 9.0

Google releases new 'Pixel VIPs' app for select Pixel phones: What is it

Pixel VIPs helps Pixel users stay close to important contacts with features like location sharing, reminders, notes, and more

What happens if you leave device chargers plugged in? An expert explains

Chargers left plugged in might seem harmless, but they quietly waste power and wear out over time. Here's what you need to know about hidden risks and costs

Delhi govt directs schools to frame smartphone usage policy after HC ruling

Following a recent Delhi High Court judgment, the Delhi Government has directed schools to formulate policies regarding students' use of smartphones.The Delhi High Court has outlined guiding principles to strike a balance between the advantages and potential drawbacks of allowing students to use smartphones while in school.Accordingly, the Education Department of the Delhi Government has instructed all heads of government, government-aided, and unaided recognised private schools in Delhi to develop and implement a school-level policy on this matter.The Directorate of Education, in its circular dated April 17, 2025, states, "The Hon'ble court has drawn up guiding principles to balance the beneficial and deleterious effect of permitting the use of smartphones in the hands of students while attending the school. Accordingly, all the Heads of Govt., Govt. Aided & Unaided Recognised Private Schools of Delhi are hereby directed to develop a policy on the above said matter on school ...

Delhi HC rejects total smartphone ban in schools, issues guidelines

The court noted that its intent is to establish guiding principles to balance the positive and negative effects of allowing students to use smartphones