LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — The ideological differences between Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders of Arkansas and Governor Gavin Newsom of California are significant, yet both leaders have united in advocating for a common initiative: the restriction of cellphones in schools. This emerging bipartisan effort has seen a quick rise, leading to at least eight states implementing such bans within the past two years, with more proposals currently being debated across other states.
Concerns regarding the mental health effects of excessive screen time on children and teachers’ frustrations over distractions caused by phone use in classrooms have fueled this movement. Dr. Vivek Murthy, the U.S. Surgeon General, has highlighted the need for designated phone-free periods in schools, further supporting the conversation surrounding the impact of digital platforms on youth. According to data from the National Center for Education Statistics, approximately 77% of schools in the U.S. claim to restrict non-academic cellphone usage. However, this figure doesn’t accurately reflect compliance or enforcement of these policies among students.
Kim Whitman, co-founder of the Phone Free Schools Movement, stated that the growing advocacy for cellphone bans resonates with both parents and educators across the political spectrum, as they wrestle with the implications of mobile device use among children. She emphasized the importance of providing students with a break from the pressures of digital connectivity during the school day, regardless of their geographic location.
Currently, states such as California, Florida, Indiana, Louisiana, Minnesota, Ohio, South Carolina, and Virginia have taken legislative actions to either restrict or ban cellphone usage in educational contexts. For instance, Florida was the inaugural state to implement stricter regulations on cellphone use in schools with a law mandating public schools to prohibit cellphone use in classrooms while disabling social media access on district Wi-Fi networks. California’s impending 2024 legislation will require nearly 1,000 school districts to devise their own cellphone policies by July 2026. Meanwhile, other states are either recommending such restrictions or have allocated funds for schools to manage phone storage throughout the day.
In the latest state of the state address, Sanders proposed a full prohibition of cellphones during school hours, building on her previous announcement of a pilot program offering grants to schools that embrace phone-free policies. Over 100 schools participated in this initiative, and Sanders reiterated the importance of minimizing distractions for students both inside and outside the classroom.
Governors Kelly Ayotte of New Hampshire, Kim Reynolds of Iowa, and Jim Pillen of Nebraska have also joined the ranks of those advocating for cellphone bans in schools. New York’s Governor, Kathy Hochul, has expressed interest in pursuing a statewide policy but has yet to provide detailed plans.
Despite the increasing number of supporters for cellphone restrictions, the proposals have not been without opposition. Some parents argue that being able to contact their children directly is crucial in emergencies. They are concerned about situations like recent school shootings, where cellphones provided a vital line of communication for students who might have believed they were facing their last moments. However, proponents of the bans argue that access to phones could potentially lead to distractions or even disclose students’ locations during dangerous situations.
Critics of the bans, including Keri Rodrigues, president of the National Parents Union, express that while the concerns regarding social media’s impact on children are valid, the blanket bans being proposed overlook deeper societal issues like bullying. She asserts that simply banning devices during school hours does not adequately address the skills children need to responsibly navigate technology and social situations. “We’ve just kicked the can down the road and thrown them into the deep end of the pool when they’re by themselves after school,” she remarked, emphasizing the need for educational initiatives rather than punitive measures.
