Association between school phone restriction policies and adolescents’ cyberbullying, gambling, and substance use behaviors

Background: Adolescents are increasingly exposed to online risks in the digital era, yet few studies have examined how school phone restriction policies relate to these risks. This study aimed to investigate the association between school phone restriction policies and adolescents’ online risk exposure and engagement in online risk behaviors, including cyberbullying, online gambling, and substance use. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted in 2022 among 3158 high school students from 35 schools in Taiwan. Students reported their perceptions of school phone restriction policies, online risk exposure, and engagement in risk behaviors. Generalized estimating equation (GEE) models were used to examine these relationships. Results: Compared with students who reported that their schools had phone restriction policies, those who perceived their schools as lacking such policies reported greater online risk exposure (i.e., longer smartphone use time, more frequent risky loot box engagement, and greater online marketing exposure) and higher rates of risk behaviors (i.e., cyberbullying, online gambling, and alcohol and tobacco use). GEE multivariate analyses indicated that perceiving schools as having no phone restriction policies was significantly associated with greater online risk exposure. Furthermore, students who perceived an absence of phone restriction policies and reported higher online risk exposure were more likely to engage in risk behaviors. Conclusion: School phone restriction policies may serve as a protective factor by reducing adolescents’ online risk exposure and limiting their involvement in cyberbullying, online gambling, and substance use.