Australia is reconsidering its heavy reliance on laptops and personal devices in classrooms, after federal education minister Jason Clare suggested children need a "digital detox" and Victoria announced it will scrap bring-your-own-device programmes in primary schools from January. The debate has gained momentum following disappointing Naplan results, which some commentators have labelled a "national tragedy", reviving longstanding concerns from teachers and parents about unstructured screen use in schools despite laptops having been promoted for over 15 years as essential 21st-century learning tools.

Under Victoria's new policy, primary schools will drop BYOD schemes entirely, screen use for years 3 to 6 will be capped at 90 minutes daily, and high schools must introduce screen-free learning blocks. A change.org petition citing the Naplan results has attracted more than 25,000 signatures calling for reduced device reliance, though research directly linking screen time to academic performance remains limited. Similar rethinks are under way internationally, including reduced tech-time in Madrid's primary schools, a curriculum review in Sweden, tighter device limits in Los Angeles's LAUSD school district, and campaigning by the UK group Closed Screens Open Minds, backed by celebrities including Hugh Grant.