Starting next year, a private school in Sydney will prohibit its primary students from using smartphones and has advised parents to purchase Nokia flip phones instead.

Cranbrook School, located in Bellevue Hill in Sydney’s eastern suburbs, announced this decision following a government ban on social media for those under 16, set to begin on Wednesday.

“We frequently encounter issues stemming from inappropriate smartphone use during commutes, especially on public transportation,” Michele Marquet, head of the junior school, informed parents, according to a report by the Sydney Morning Herald.

Currently, Cranbrook students are prohibited from using phones during school hours, though those in years 3 to 6 may carry a phone for their journeys to and from school.

The new policy, effective next year, requires that any phones used before and after school be either a Nokia 2660 Flip 4G or an Opel Mobile Flip Phone.

Both phones retail for under $100, with prices ranging depending on the outlet.

“[We] believe that this adjustment will help ensure students remain focused on learning and engaged with their friends during the school day and also when they are travelling to and from school on public transport or on foot,” Marquet said.

Cranbrook will join other schools in banning smartphones for students in certain grades, including Sydney girls’ private schools Queenwood, in Mosman, and Pymble Ladies’ College, in Pymble.

Students at 80 Western Sydney Catholic schools will also be banned from using mobile phones from the beginning of the 2026 school year.

“Though the majority of our schools already have a phones-off-and-away approach, it’s important to make clear that this is the right approach for all our students,” Catholic Schools Parramatta Diocese Chief Executive Officer Jack de Groot said in a statement last month.

“Of course, there is a place for mobile phones in our lives, but that’s not at school.”

Phones have also been banned in all NSW public schools.

Under 16 social media ban

The social media ban for under-16-year-olds kicks in on Wednesday and will force platforms to verify users’ age.

Platforms could be slapped with a fine of up to $32.8 million if they fail to comply.

The 10 platforms covered by the restrictions so far include Instagram, Facebook, Kick, Reddit, Snapchat, Threads, TikTok, Twitch, X and YouTube.

Some, such as live-streaming platform Kick, blur the lines of what constitutes social media, drawing further criticism from the ban’s opponents.

eSafety has flagged that more platforms are being considered.

Some companies have started telling teens to download their data and prepare for their accounts to be frozen.

Snapchat last week said that from December 10, all users thought to be under 16 will need to verify their age via a bank using ConnectID, government-issued photo ID or selfie.

The selfie would be checked using facial age estimation technology.

Meta – which owns Facebook, Instagram, Threads – also announced similar measures.

Government ‘confident’ on social media fight

Communications Minister Anika Wells said on Sunday the government is “confident” it will win a High Court challenge against the social media ban, after 15-year-olds, backed by digital rights activists, launched a bid in the country’s top court last week, accusing Canberra of trying to “silence” them.

The court has agreed to hear the case.

Wells told Sky News she felt positive about the government’s odds.

“We are working with the Solicitor General on the High Court challenge that we have before us at the moment, and we’re really confident that we can put forward a very strong case and be successful,” she said.

“I’m going to be spending the summer working on that High Court case to make sure that this law is upheld.”

In announcing their challenge, plaintiffs Noah Jones and Macy Neyland said the ban was “lazy” policy and would drive teens to set up “fake profiles”.

“We’re disappointed in a lazy government that blanket bans under-16s rather than investing in programs to help kids be safe on social media,” Jones said.
“They should protect kids with safeguards, not silence.”

Neyland also charged the ban hampered political discourse among future voters.

“Young people like me are the voters of tomorrow,” she said.

They lodged their constitutional challenge with the help of the Digital Freedom Project.

News.com.au has contacted Cranbrook’s junior school for comment.