United States: Mobile Phone Ban Sweeps American Schools

Do Not Disturb: Mobile Phone Ban Sweeps American Schools
newsweek.com, Sep 22, 2924 Updated Sep 23, 2024

Cellphone bans are becoming commonplace in U.S. schools, with numerous states bringing in restrictions on children having devices on them during education hours.

(Photo): A composite image created by Newsweek. More and more states are beginning to act on phone usage in schools. Photo-illustration by Newsweek/Getty

The debate over phones in schools has been ongoing since they became a significant part of everyday life in the mid-2000s. These days you would struggle to find many American teenagers who don't own some sort of device, with parents usually giving their child their own phone when they are 13 years old, according to research by Prodigy Education.

That doesn't mean that they are permitted to use them whenever they like. Across the country, some 76 percent of schools prohibited phones for nonacademic use in the 2021-2022 school year, according to the U.S. Department of Education.

Policy decisions regarding phones are often made by the school or its district. But now, high-level lawmakers are advocating for—and indeed implementing—policies that restrict how much, if at all, American youngsters are able to use their devices on school grounds.

"On one hand, cellphones provide students with immediate access to educational resources, fostering more self-directed learning," Dr. Isha Metzger, associate professor at Georgia State University who researches youth mental health, told Newsweek. "Phones also allow students to stay connected with parents, which can reduce anxiety, particularly for younger students or those with emotional or health concerns."

But just how much children use their devices during school hours is causing concern. "Increasingly, schools are sounding alarm bells that their students just can't look away or disconnect from their personal devices," Shelley Pasnik, senior vice president at global nonprofit Education Development Center, told Newsweek. "Even more, students seem to be less able to engage with one another in ways that are fundamental to their health and well-being."

Which States Have Policies in Place?

According to Education Week, at least 13 states have passed laws or enacted policies that ban or restrict students' use of phones in schools, either on a statewide level or having recommended local districts enact their own bans or restrictive policies. Three states have statewide policies that restrict a student's access to their phone during school hours: Florida, South Carolina and Louisiana. Virginia, Ohio, Minnesota and Indiana require school districts to implement policies that reduce a child's phone usage in school, while others either recommend it or offer incentives if policies are enacted.

Florida led the charge on phone restrictions, with its policy to restrict the use of "wireless communication devices" during instructional time coming into force in summer 2023. The 12 other states have either signed or implemented policies this year.

In August, California Governor Gavin Newsom called on all schools in the state to immediately restrict cellphone use in classrooms.

"Every classroom should be a place of focus, learning and growth," he said in a letter to schools ahead of the new academic year. "Working together, educators, administrators and parents can create an environment where students are fully engaged in their education, free from the distractions on the phones and pressures of social media."

Why Are Phone Restrictions Being Tightened?

There are a multitude of concerns about phone usage in schools, with some of these views held by high-ranking U.S. officials. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy said earlier this year that devices in schools can impact education and mental health.

"You've got a situation where kids are not only trying to learn, but they're simultaneously on their phones, they're texting their friends, they're replying to messages on social media, they're scrolling through their feeds," he said. "It makes it very difficult not only to learn, but it makes it hard in school to build relationships and friendships."

On the ground in schools, educators are largely behind restrictions being put in place. According to the Pew Research Center, 72 percent of high school teachers say cellphone distractions are a major problem.

According to a recent study by Prodigy Game, which surveyed 800 American parents and 200 teachers, on average teachers have to discipline students for using their phones five times a week, and 46 percent said they have been forced to confiscate a student's device. More than three-quarters—81 percent—of teachers believe a ban will lead to an increase in a student's academic performance.

Of the main concerns from parents surveyed, an overwhelming majority (77 percent) said that removing phones from classrooms would improve students' academic performance. Sixty-six percent said they believed bans would improve their child's mental health and 67 percent said they believe it would improve behavior.

Facilitating Learning—Or Not?

While some think phones should be banned outright, others think that devices are simply not being used for the right reasons.

Experts have explained to Newsweek that when used correctly, students can get much more out of their phones that simply social media or exchanging messages with friends.

Dr. Eric Alcera, chief medical officer of Carrier Clinic, a behavioral health hospital in Belle Mead, New Jersey, that is part of Hackensack Meridian Health, told Newsweek that having a smartphone on hand allows children "access to educational resources and be able to quickly fact-check" and help "increase digital literacy, which is relevant as global dependence on technology increases."

Safety was also a serious concern of experts, particularly with the frequency of school shootings in America. "Safety is paramount for parents and kids, and our current climate of gun violence, war and political divide further increases family anxiety, and parental 'safetyism' becomes challenging for school officials to develop policies that some may perceive as favoring education over safety," Alcera continued. "Also, children now can use phones for health-related reasons, such as apps for monitoring common pediatric medical conditions like asthma, diabetes, migraines and obesity."

Metzger sees both sides—with the concerns of students and parents, particularly when it comes to physical safety and mental well-being, also being important. She said phones "serve a crucial role in one's sense of personal safety" and allow students to communicate quickly in emergencies.

"This can be particularly reassuring for parents and students alike, especially in the current climate where school safety is a concern," Metzger said. "For students managing mental health issues or chronic health conditions, apps for mindfulness, anxiety management or medical monitoring are valuable tools."

But in having the world at your fingertips, it's easy to get distracted.

"Cellphones can become a significant distraction, pulling focus away from teachers, decreasing academic performance and contributing to cognitive overload," Metzger said. "Additionally, social media use on phones often leads to social comparison, which, in terms of mental health, can contribute to anxiety, depression and low self-esteem among students. Cyberbullying also contributes to mental health challenges like stress, isolation and even trauma in extreme cases."

Prodigy Education also found that there is concern over resistance to phone bans as well. Of those parents and teacher surveyed, 63 percent said they were concerned over bans making it more difficult to contact students during emergencies. Forty percent said they were worried about opposition from pupils, with 33 percent also concerned about backlash from parents.

Experts that spoke to Newsweek were near-unanimous in the view that children need to be educated on how to use their devices to their benefit, not their hindrance.

"Children need to be taught responsible cellphone and social media usage, preferably before they get to high school," Alcera said. "Technology can be positive if children develop an informed and healthy understanding and perspective of it."

Correction 9/23/24, 9:27 a.m. ET: Dr. Eric Alcera's job title and the name of the health company he works for have been updated.

https://www.newsweek.com/do-not-disturb-mobile-phone-ban-american-schools-1953348