INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF CHANGES IN EDUCATION
Research Article
Aug 16, 2026 205 58

My Disconnected World: A Study on Students’ Perceptions of Mobile Phone Ban and Digital Well-Being in Urban and Rural Schools

Franciely Pereira Moreira 1 * ,
Danielli Araújo Lima 1
1 Computational Intelligence and Robotics Laboratory, Federal Institute of Education, Science and Technology of Triângulo Mineiro (Uberaba Campus), Brazil* Corresponding Author
International Journal of Changes in Education, 3(4), 2026, 563-575, https://doi.org/10.47852/bonviewIJCE62027593
Online publication date: Jan 29, 2026
Publication date: Aug 16, 2026
Full Text (PDF)

ABSTRACT

This study analyzes students’ perceptions of the Brazilian Law No. 15.100/2025, which prohibits mobile phone use in basic education, and explores its relation to screen time and digital well-being in urban and rural schools. Data were collected through a structured questionnaire with multiple-choice, Likert-scale, and open-ended questions, administered face-to-face to 199 students in grades 6–9 (100 from the rural area (RA), 99 from the urban area). Descriptive and inferential analyses (t-tests and chi-square tests) were applied to compare groups. Results showed that RA students agreed more strongly that the ban helps concentration (mean = 3.26 vs 2.29; t = 4.55; p < 0.001) and perceived it more positively overall (mean = 2.93 vs 2.20; t = 3.73; p = 0.0003). Both groups, however, recognized the pedagogical potential of mobile phones when purposefully integrated into lessons (76.4% agreement). Open-ended responses revealed mixed experiences in reducing screen time, with reports ranging from anxiety to improved focus and social interaction. This exploratory classroom-based report combines quantitative data and pedagogical reflection to illustrate students’ attitudes toward digital well-being and promote conscious technology use in education.

KEYWORDS

conscious use of technology basic education mobile devices digital well-being pedagogical intentionality

CITATION (APA)

Moreira, F. P., & Lima, D. A. (2026). My Disconnected World: A Study on Students’ Perceptions of Mobile Phone Ban and Digital Well-Being in Urban and Rural Schools. International Journal of Changes in Education, 3(4), 563-575. https://doi.org/10.47852/bonviewIJCE62027593
Harvard
Moreira, F. P., and Lima, D. A. (2026). My Disconnected World: A Study on Students’ Perceptions of Mobile Phone Ban and Digital Well-Being in Urban and Rural Schools. International Journal of Changes in Education, 3(4), pp. 563-575. https://doi.org/10.47852/bonviewIJCE62027593
Vancouver
Moreira FP, Lima DA. My Disconnected World: A Study on Students’ Perceptions of Mobile Phone Ban and Digital Well-Being in Urban and Rural Schools. International Journal of Changes in Education. 2026;3(4):563-75. https://doi.org/10.47852/bonviewIJCE62027593
AMA
Moreira FP, Lima DA. My Disconnected World: A Study on Students’ Perceptions of Mobile Phone Ban and Digital Well-Being in Urban and Rural Schools. International Journal of Changes in Education. 2026;3(4), 563-575. https://doi.org/10.47852/bonviewIJCE62027593
Chicago
Moreira, Franciely Pereira, and Danielli Araújo Lima. "My Disconnected World: A Study on Students’ Perceptions of Mobile Phone Ban and Digital Well-Being in Urban and Rural Schools". International Journal of Changes in Education 2026 3 no. 4 (2026): 563-575. https://doi.org/10.47852/bonviewIJCE62027593
MLA
Moreira, Franciely Pereira et al. "My Disconnected World: A Study on Students’ Perceptions of Mobile Phone Ban and Digital Well-Being in Urban and Rural Schools". International Journal of Changes in Education, vol. 3, no. 4, 2026, pp. 563-575. https://doi.org/10.47852/bonviewIJCE62027593

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