should cell phones be banned in school essay

Why Schools Should Ban Cell Phones in the Classroom—and Why Parents Have to Help

New study shows it takes a young brain 20 minutes to refocus after using a cell phone in a classroom

Photo by skynesher/iStock

Parents, the next time you are about to send a quick trivial text message to your students while they’re at school—maybe sitting in a classroom—stop. And think about this: it might take them only 10 seconds to respond with a thumbs-up emoji, but their brain will need 20 minutes to refocus on the algebra or history or physics lesson in front of them— 20 minutes .

That was just one of the many findings in a recent report from a 14-country study by UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) that prompted this headline in the Washington Post : “Schools should ban smartphones. Parents should help.” The study recommends a ban on smartphones at school for students of all ages, and says the data are unequivocal, showing that countries that enforce restrictions see improved academic performance and less bullying.

It’s a fraught debate, one that prompts frustration among educators, who say students are less focused than ever as schools struggle to enforce cell phone limitation policies, and rage from some parents, worrying about a possible shooting when they can’t get in touch, who insist they need to be able to reach their children at all times. And, perhaps surprisingly, it prompts a collective yawn from students.

In fact, students openly admit their cell phones distract them and that they focus better in school without them, says Joelle Renstrom , a senior lecturer in rhetoric at Boston University’s College of General Studies. It’s an issue she has studied for years. She even performed an experiment with her students that supports what she long suspected: Cell Phones + Classrooms = Bad Learning Environment.

BU Today spoke with Renstrom about the latest study and research.

with Joelle Renstrom

Bu today: let me get right to the point. do we as a society need to be better about restricting cell phones in classrooms it seems so obvious..

Renstrom: Of course. But it is easier said than done. It’s hard to be consistent. We will always have students with some kind of reason, or a note from someone, that gives them access to technology. And then it becomes hard to explain why some people can have it and some people can’t. But student buy-in to the idea is important.

BU Today: But is getting students to agree more important than getting schools and parents to agree? Is it naive to think that students are supposed to follow the rules that we as parents and teachers set for them?

Renstrom: I have made the case before that addiction to phones is kind of like second-hand smoking. If you’re young and people around you are using it, you are going to want it, too. Every baby is like that. They want to reach for it, it’s flashing, their parents are on it all the time. Students openly acknowledge they are addicted. Their digital lives are there. But they also know there is this lack of balance in their lives. I do think buy-in is important. But do it as an experiment. Did it work? What changes did it make? Did it make you anxious or distracted during those 50 minutes in class? I did that for years. I surveyed students for a number of semesters; how do you feel about putting your phone in a pouch? They made some predictions and said what they thought about how annoying it was. But at the end, they talked about how those predictions [played out], and whether they were better able to focus. It was very, very clear they were better able to focus. Also interestingly, not a single student left during class to get a drink or go to the bathroom. They had been 100 percent doing that just so they could use their phone.

BU Today: Should we be talking about this question, cell phones in classrooms, for all ages, middle school all the way through college? Or does age matter?

Renstrom: It’s never going to be universal. Different families, different schools. And there is, on some level, a safety issue. I do not blame parents for thinking, if there’s someone with a gun in school, I need a way to reach my kids. What if all the phones are in pouches when someone with a gun comes in? It’s crazy that we even have to consider that.

BU Today: What’s one example of something that can be changed easily?

Renstrom: Parents need to stop calling their kids during the day. Stop doing that. What you are doing is setting that kid up so that they are responding to a bot 24-7 when they shouldn’t be. If you’re a kid who gets a text from your parent in class, you are conditioned to respond and to know that [the parent] expects a response. It adds so much anxiety to people’s lives. It all just ends up in this anxiety loop. When kids are in school, leave them alone. Think about what that phone is actually meant for. When you gave them a phone, you said it’s in case of an emergency or if you need to be picked up in a different place. Make those the parameters. If it’s just to confirm, “I’m still picking you up at 3,” then no, don’t do that. Remember when we didn’t have to confirm? There is a time and place for this, for all technology.

BU Today: This latest study, how do you think people will react to it?

Renstrom: This isn’t new. How many studies have to come out to say that cured meat is terrible and is carcinogenic. People are like, “Oh, don’t tell me what to eat. Or when to be on my phone.” This gets real contentious, real fast because telling people what’s good for them is hard.

BU Today: I can understand that—but in this case we’re not telling adults to stop being on their phones. We’re saying help get your kids off their phones in classrooms, for their health and education.

Renstrom: Studies show kids’ brains, and their gray matter, are low when they are on screens. School is prime habit-forming time. You should not sit in class within view of the professor, laughing while they are talking about World War II. There is a social appropriateness that needs to be learned. Another habit that needs to be addressed is the misconception of multitasking. We are under this misconception we all can do it. And we can’t. You might think, I can listen to this lecture while my sister texts me. That is not supported by science or studies. It is literally derailing you. Your brain jumps off to another track and has to get back on. If you think you have not left that first track, you are wrong.

BU Today: So what next steps would you like to see?

Renstrom: I would like to see both schools and families be more assertive about this. But also to work together. If the parents are anti-smartphone policy, it doesn’t matter if the school is pro-policy. If there is a war between parents and schools, I am not sure much will happen. Some kind of intervention and restriction is better than just ripping it away from kids. The UNESCO study found it is actually even worse for university students. We are all coming at this problem from all different ways. Pouches or banned phones. Or nothing.

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There are 37 comments on Why Schools Should Ban Cell Phones in the Classroom—and Why Parents Have to Help

i found this very helpful with my research

It was ok, but i will say i enjoyed learning more about why we should not have cell phones.

in think they should not be banned

It was a great research, helped me a lot.

true it is vary helpful for reasearch

I think that this was helpful, but there is an ongoing question at my school, which is, though phones may be negative to health and knowledge and they’re a distraction what happens if there was a shooting or a fire or a dangourus weather event and you don’t have a phone to tell your parents or guardians at home if you are alright? (Reply answer if have one)

Yeah they would get an amber alert

well, the school has the technology that can help communicate that to the parents, and if that were to happen, I guess that’s why there’s always a cell phone in the classrooms those old-time ones, but I feel it would not be okay in case of a shooting since you have to go silence, and on the moment of fire or weather everything happens so fast in the moment.

Yeah, that’s exactly why they have those supplies or items in the classroom, to alert parents. Kids don’t need to use their phones for that.

In schools all teachers have cell phones. So one way or the other the messages would get out to the parents as needed. If a student gets on the cell phone to inform the parent about the activity, that’s taken place it could cause panic. School staffs are informed as to how to handle such situations.. what I have seen take place in classes are students who are texting each other either in the same room or in another classroom during the school time. Many students spend time on YouTube and not concentrating what’s going on in the classroom.

Teachers have communication with all parents and it also has amber alerts

You just give the kids watches to call there parents or guardians on.

I’m a teacher. If there’s an event like this, it could be detrimental to the emergency system if too many people are calling. Also, kids don’t have the common sense to turn their ringers off. They go off in my class, more often than they should.. If there’s a shooter in any school, parents are going to be calling their kids. Phones constantly going off could lead a shooter to specific places if they can hear them. I understand the parent’s arguments as to why they want their kids to have their phones, but that very argument could lead to their child being hurt or killed in the scenario mentioned above.

I think that this was helpful, but there is an ongoing question at my school, which is, though phones may be negative to health and knowledge and they’re a distraction what happens if there is a shooting or a fire or a dangerous weather event and you don’t have a phone to tell your parents or guardians at home if you are alright?

I am writing a paper and this is very helpful thank you.

I am writing a paper and this is very helpful but it is true what if our mom or dad have to contact us we need phones!

this helped me with my school project about whether cell phones should be banned in school. I think yes but the class is saying no. I think it’s because I was raised without a phone so I know how to survive and contact my parents without a phone. but anyway, this helped me with my essay! thank you!

yes i’m am doing the same thing .this helped a lot

I don’t think phones should be allowed in school, and this is perfect backup! Thank you Doug

great infromation for debate

Thanks, this helped a lot I’m working on an essay and this has been really helpful.by the way, some people may think, but what if i need to call my mom/dad/guardian. but the real thing is, there is a high chance that there will be a telephone near you. or if it’s something that only you want them to know,go ahead and ask your teacher if you can go to the office.

I mean it could also depend on the student, like for example let’s say that i’m a student inside the school, if I used my phone and I got off it, for me it would instant focus, but for others students they might take longer or the same time as me, it all really depends if the student is tend to be responsible with their time trying to focus so I would say that this claim is not true.

I think that is article was very good. I’m currently writing and essay and I have used this for most of my evidence so far. I personally think that cellphones should be banned from the classroom because the school will get the information that your parents need out to them so you don’t have to cause a panic because you don’t know if your parents know what is going on at your school or not. It will just be better because then we wouldn’t have as many distractions in the classrooms as we do now because kids are always getting caught on their phones and they are constantly being sent down to the office and it takes time to get the class back on track. I personally agree with Doug that cellphones should be banned in the classrooms.

It’s striking to realize that the reason some parents feel the need to advocate for phone usage in school is due to concerns about a potential school shooting. While parents may be more informed about the harmful effects of smartphones in a learning environment, they take preference for the safety of their child in a hypothetical situation. It’s a hard debate because while the safety of their children is important, the drastic effects of students needing 20 minutes to refocus is significantly impacting their ability to learn in their classes. I find it very saddening that this is what our world has come to – prioritizing safety for a school shooting over academic performance, because it is no longer so unusual for a school to experience that type of tragedy.

I liked the comment, “Addiction to phones is kind of like second-hand smoking. If you’re young and people around you are using it, you are going to want it too,” because I experienced this phenomenon in my early middle school years, with the invention of the first iPhone. All of a sudden an invention that was broadcasted on the news became an essential for the other students in my middle school class, to the point where I became one of the only students without one. Then, I finally succumbed to the pressure, and begged my parents for an iPhone as I felt extremely left out. It’s frustrating to accept that this pressure is affecting children now younger and younger by the year, with even six year old children I babysit owning their own iPhone/iPad.

I also think that with the prevalence of child phone usage significantly increases parental anxiety, particularly for those parents who are already overbearing to start. Giving parents the ability to contact their child at any given time is harmful, and it can create a dependence on either side. It’s ironic given the fact that parents push their children to focus and succeed in their classes, yet harass them all day about minuscule things that could’ve been addressed later that day. So yes, parents need to stop calling their kids during the day.

this helped me with my school project, very reliable source.

I think that this talked more about why parents should help more than why cell phones should be banned.

I think the teachers or guardians will allow you to contact someone but I think after the shooting or crisis they will contact your parents or guardian from the office or person in charge

I agree, I’m 13 and I honestly could live without a phone

i also agree but parents need to reach their kids somehow if something happens in school

I’m also 13

had to research this for an assingnment and onistlly, I love my phone and I would marry it if I could!

This is really reasonable. In my school my friends have cell phones and there is a lot of drama. I am writing a report on this.

This is really good

I’ve taught high school since 1999. Should cell phones be banned? 100% Absolutley. I don’t think twice about it.

this was a little helpful but i still need my phone in school

for what you need your education your phone doesn’t teach you stuff

very helpful for me but I do think that we should still have phones in school. my daughter has a phone and she says that at some point the schools need to think about the safety of children. she is ten yrs old and one day when she almost forgot her phone but she remembered and grabbed but a homeless man came up to her asking her if she wanted some food and good thing she had her phone because she called me crying saying that the schools say no phones but I grabbed it today anyway and I almost got kidnapped

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Bans may help protect classroom focus, but districts need to stay mindful of students’ sense of connection, experts say

Students around the world are being separated from their phones.

In 2020, the National Center for Education Statistics reported that 77 percent of U.S. schools had moved to prohibit cellphones for nonacademic purposes. In September 2018, French lawmakers outlawed cellphone use for schoolchildren under the age of 15. In China, phones were banned country-wide for schoolchildren last year.

Supporters of these initiatives have cited links between smartphone use and bullying and social isolation and the need to keep students focused on schoolwork.

77% Of U.S. schools moved to ban cellphones for nonacademic purposes as of 2020, according to the National Center for Education Statistics

But some Harvard experts say instructors and administrators should consider learning how to teach with tech instead of against it, in part because so many students are still coping with academic and social disruptions caused by the pandemic. At home, many young people were free to choose how and when to use their phones during learning hours. Now, they face a school environment seeking to take away their main source of connection.

“Returning back to in-person, I think it was hard to break the habit,” said Victor Pereira, a lecturer on education and co-chair of the Teaching and Teaching Leadership Program at the Graduate School of Education.

Through their students, he and others with experience both in the classroom and in clinical settings have seen interactions with technology blossom into important social connections that defy a one-size-fits-all mindset. “Schools have been coming back, trying to figure out, how do we readjust our expectations?” Pereira added.

It’s a hard question, especially in the face of research suggesting that the mere presence of a smartphone can undercut learning .

Michael Rich , an associate professor of pediatrics at Harvard Medical School and an associate professor of social and behavioral sciences at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, says that phones and school don’t mix: Students can’t meaningfully absorb information while also texting, scrolling, or watching YouTube videos.

“The human brain is incapable of thinking more than one thing at a time,” he said. “And so what we think of as multitasking is actually rapid-switch-tasking. And the problem with that is that switch-tasking may cover a lot of ground in terms of different subjects, but it doesn’t go deeply into any of them.”

Pereira’s approach is to step back — and to ask whether a student who can’t resist the phone is a signal that the teacher needs to work harder on making a connection. “Two things I try to share with my new teachers are, one, why is that student on the phone? What’s triggering getting on your cell phone versus jumping into our class discussion, or whatever it may be? And then that leads to the second part, which is essentially classroom management.

“Design better learning activities, design learning activities where you consider how all of your students might want to engage and what their interests are,” he said. He added that allowing phones to be accessible can enrich lessons and provide opportunities to use technology for school-related purposes.

Mesfin Awoke Bekalu, a research scientist in the Lee Kum Sheung Center for Health and Happiness at the Chan School, argues that more flexible classroom policies can create opportunities for teaching tech-literacy and self-regulation.

“There is a huge, growing body of literature showing that social media platforms are particularly helpful for people who need resources or who need support of some kind, beyond their proximate environment,” he said. A study he co-authored by Rachel McCloud and Vish Viswanath for the Lee Kum Sheung Center for Health and Happiness shows that this is especially true for marginalized groups such as students of color and LGBTQ students. But the findings do not support a free-rein policy, Bekalu stressed.

In the end, Rich, who noted the particular challenges faced by his patients with attention-deficit disorders and other neurological conditions, favors a classroom-by-classroom strategy. “It can be managed in a very local way,” he said, adding: “It’s important for parents, teachers, and the kids to remember what they are doing at any point in time and focus on that. It’s really only in mono-tasking that we do very well at things.”

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Why Cell Phones Should Be Allowed in Schools — 11 Reasons Based on 16 Research Studies

If we don’t let kids use cell phones in the classroom, how will they ever learn to use them responsibly in a workplace? Every adult I know uses their phone all day every day. Let’s prepare kids for the real world. — Matthew B. Courtney, Ed.D. (@mbcourtneyedd) August 7, 2022

In this article, I’ll share:

Cell Phones in School — Teachers’ Thoughts

”We need to embrace these changes and instead of trying to separate that reality from an outdated vision of a classroom, we need to find a way to optimize the educational experience for the connected kids of the future. We can’t disconnect them from the world between the hours of 8am – 3pm everyday. Don’t be scared. You have to leave your comfort zone and take a risk. The same thing you ask your students to do. Take a risk and see what the future may look like and then change your teaching to ensure that the technology is used as a tool and not just a distraction.” —Tim Floyd, Education Awesomeness

“I’ve also seen the value that cell phones can bring to education. Students who might not have access to computers at home can type and submit essays on their phones. Students can quickly look up some information and verify its validity. Furthermore, students can also use their cell phones to collaborate with their peers.” —Christina, The Darling English Teacher

“When students have access to technology and social media, they have access to empowerment and leadership online. As educators, we need to empower our students to use technology for good. When students are given the chance to use their cellphones in class as a learning tool, we can teach them how to positively influence and impact other people online.” —Amanda, EDTech Endeavors

“When students have access to technology and social media, they have access to empowerment and leadership online. As educators, we need to empower our students to use technology for good. When students are given the chance to use their cellphones in class as a learning tool, we can teach them how to positively influence and impact other people online.” — A.J. Juliani , the Director of Technology & Innovation for Centennial School District

Why Should Phones be Allowed in School — 11 Reasons

Setting up a phone charging station, just as you may set up a tablet or Chromebook charging station in your classroom, can ensure your students’ gadgets are charged and ready when needed during instruction.

1. Providing an Additional Tool for Learning

In essence, by harnessing the potential of mobile phones, educators can cultivate dynamic, interactive, and resource-rich environments that cater to the needs of the modern student.

Phones are already banned. The parents are worried about these bans because of the very high chance there is a school shooting and their child is unable to call for help. https://t.co/TxpJfrUgJn — Anosognosiogenesis (@pookleblinky) June 6, 2023

While detractors may argue against the distractions phones might pose academically, the security and peace of mind they offer, especially in dire situations, make a compelling case for their presence in the school environment.

3. Improved Communication

Interestingly, a study from the School of Business highlighted another crucial dimension to this trend. Beyond the teacher-student dynamic, students are proactively forming educational bonds with their peers through their phones. They often initiate and manage class-based groups on various social platforms, allowing for an organized exchange of study materials and collaborative learning, devoid of any official oversight. Such initiatives underscore the instrumental role cell phones play in modern education, fostering a holistic and communal approach to learning.

4. Organization

By planning and visualizing their day or week, students can achieve a balance between academic and personal commitments. This underlines why phones should be allowed in school, as cell phones, often perceived as distractions, can actually be powerful organizational tools. When used wisely, they can significantly enhance a student’s ability to manage time, keep up with responsibilities, and maintain a balanced academic life.

5. Can Save Schools Money

The digital revolution has fundamentally transformed the education sector, offering avenues for cost-saving and enhanced accessibility.

Here’s how schools can leverage cell phones for economical and sustainable education:

6. Good for the Environment

7. prepares students for the future.

Undeniably, in the rapidly evolving landscape of the 21st century, technology stands as a colossal pillar shaping numerous sectors. In such a milieu, it becomes imperative for students to not only be familiar with but also proficient in utilizing technological tools, including mobile phones. Here’s what students can acquire that will be advantageous for their future:

In conclusion, embracing mobile phones in educational settings is more than just keeping pace with the times; it’s a forward-looking strategy. By doing so, we not only enhance the current learning experience but also lay a robust foundation for our students, ensuring they are well-prepared and competitive in their future careers.

8. Can Create Digitally Responsible Citizens

In an age dominated by digital communication, it’s crucial to instill not only tech proficiency but also digital etiquette among students. Schools, as primary centers of learning and social interaction, have an essential role in shaping this aspect of students’ digital journey. By permitting gadget use within school premises, we lay the groundwork for creating digitally responsible citizens.

Without these lessons, students may inadvertently cultivate habits that may hinder their interpersonal relationships in the future. Thus, integrating digital etiquette into the curriculum doesn’t just foster tech-savvy individuals; it molds well-rounded, respectful citizens adept at navigating the digital and real-world landscapes.

9. Can Help Students When Studying

In today’s digital age, the traditional means of note-taking have undergone a transformative evolution, with smartphones emerging as invaluable tools in this process. The built-in camera on mobile phones offers students an efficient and immediate way to capture essential educational content, augmenting their learning experience. Here’s how this can be helpful:

“In my classes, I let students take pictures of the digital whiteboard, too. If an assignment description or important PowerPoint slide has been up long enough and I am ready to move on, before doing so, I invite kids to snap a picture. This allows them to refer back to the slide at home if necessary.” — Chad Donohue , National Education Association

10. Accessibility and Personalized Learning

In conclusion, the allowance of cell phones in class isn’t just about keeping up with the times; it’s about championing a more egalitarian and individualized approach to education. By embracing this tool, educators can create a learning environment where every student feels valued, understood, and empowered.

11. Boosts Creativity and Innovation

7 ideas how cell phones can be used effectively in the classroom.

As we mentioned above, allowing students to use phones in the classroom can greatly benefit your instruction.

There are a number of ways you can use these technological tools to enhance your lessons and provide your students with access to resources they may otherwise not be able to use. Some of the top ways to effectively use cell phones in the classroom include:

1. Scanning QR Codes

2. using educational apps.

There is a multitude of educational apps out there designed for students of all ages and all subject areas. Choosing a few of these apps to use to give your students extra practice on a skill or target a specific area of need can be quite beneficial. Take a look at our articles on educational VR apps or vocabulary games .

3. Collaborating on Assignment

4. completing surveys and quizzes, 5. providing feedback to others.

Students can read other students’ writing assignments or other work and provide them with digital feedback or additional questions to consider.

6. Augmented Reality Experiences

7. recording and editing multimedia projects, digital etiquette for students in the classroom.

Once your school has settled the debate over whether gadgets should be allowed in school and decided to let students use these valuable technological resources, it is essential to teach proper phone and technology etiquette to your students and develop systems to manage cell phone use in your classroom. Using mobile phones in the classroom properly is key; they should not be a distraction or something that gets in the way of learning.

In this video, CJ Reynolds is talking about tips that he uses to keep kids off their phones without making it a big deal.

Share these rules for digital etiquette with your students to help ensure phones are a beneficial tool, not one that distracts from learning.

Put your phone down when someone is talking to you and make eye contact with the speaker. Don’t text while you are walking. Be aware of your surroundings and don’t get distracted from someone or something important. Silence your phone when you are in class. Remove your headphones if someone is trying to talk to you. Don’t post on social media during the school day. Be a good digital citizen and avoid getting into any digital drama. Know the cell phone policy for each of your teachers, and respect it when in their classroom. Don’t make your teacher, classmates, friends, or family secondary to your phone.

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Final thoughts.

There are some pros and cons to consider regarding using cell phones in the classroom. However, given all the benefits that were shared above, I think the reasons to allow mobile phones in school far outweigh the reasons against allowing them. Allowing students to use their gadgets in the classroom will help keep them engaged in learning and provide them with instant access to technology, tools, and resources to help them learn.

So, now that you know the answer to the question, “why should students be allowed to use cell phones in class,” has your thinking changed? How do you see yourself using mobile phones with your students?

My principal seems to have an old-school thought process about cell phones in school and has completely banned them from being out in the classroom. I’d like to let my students use them for instructional purposes. Any tips on how to change her thinking?

That is tough. I’d start by finding some other teachers in your building that share your opinion and come up with a plan to present to your principal together. Bringing data, like what I shared in the article, about how cell phones can benefit students in class could help you make your point.

I love the artice and am using it for an assingment if you see it your name or website will be on it.

Thanks for the article it is truly an elaborate article, thanks for sharing it.

yes, this is fab

my teacher does not allow phones

my whole state banned phones in class TvT

I feel like you should be able to use your phone at passing periods and breaks and also lunch.

this is a common question people ask me I 57 year old male once allowed my kids to have phones in class but one pranked called the police so I say no

This is a nice source for my citation C: Thank you.

I am writing a speech to present to my class to persuade the teachers to allow more phone usage in class, thank you for your point of view and the information.

You’re welcome!

thanks so much! this will help a lot with a project I’m doing

I am making a debate speech this is really helpful thank you!

I was not born with this new technology, cell phone, I had to learn it. Now, I am a teacher and honestly, it is great as a tool for students to use but it’s also a deterrent. Like my wife says, “You give a mouse a cookie and they will ask you for a glass of milk”. Students seem to confuse rights with privilege. My students honestly believe that they have the right to use a phone whenever they want, this includes during a class, versus asking permission. Unfortunately, others do not use it appropriately. I have no problems with the use of cell phones, as long as it is for academic achievement, but not as a school alternative (ignore teacher and ignore daily task).

Thank you for sharing your thoughts with us! We completely agree about the inappropriate use of phones.

thank you! so much i don’t know what i would do without this information!

Thank you for this essay

The essay has good information but I want more. You are telling me about the technology benefits but that’s what the Chromebooks are for. So if you could give me a stronger argument I would definitely agree.

Thanks for letting us know. We will take your wishes into consideration

Students can not handle these devices!!!!

Thank you for sharing your opinion. I still believe there are many ways to get students’ attention in the classroom rather than on the phone.

I always enjoy the creative ways technology can be used in schools. The mix of video talks, blog ideas and teacher input this post are great ways to share ideas. Thanks for the modern takes on how to use phones in the classroom, it is refreshing!

My pleasure!

I NEED THIS FOR MY ESSAY. THANK YOU!

I believe that cell phones in schools should be friends not enemys

thank you so much

We need our phones for SAFETY ?

This was very cool and so many good reasons why we should be able to use our phones in class!

This was very helpful imformation

I appreciate this article it is so supportive and believes in this article thanks ✌

four big guys is crazy lol four big guys and they grab on my thighs

i agree they should allow phones in school but just when were are really stuck or bored. so that is why i think that.

Hey! Thank you! I needed this for my ELA class argumentative writing prompt, this information was very useful. Since my school has a no phone-in-class rule, I can’t even have it with me in my bag! The only time I have on it during weekdays is at home and on the bus. But anyways this information was essential for my project. Thank you! 😀

You’re welcome!?

This is so helpful for argumentative essays! Thank you!

Thay can be good use for kids that walk home from school or to school or both.

In many school districts, the students borrow laptops, so they don’t need cell phones. Teachers may use software to restrict the laptops to their selected educational websites. Cell phones have disrupted learning, so they must be banned or jammed in the classroom. However, when students aren’t distracted by cell phones, they will gradually become worse at running around, yelling, and fighting, like they did before their cell phone addictions. We need consistent discipline. Disruptive students should learn with fun programs on a computer in separate rooms, instead of infecting other students with bad attitudes. After a year of learning on a computer, they can try the classroom again. We also need online video in the classrooms, so everyone, especially parents, can see the discipline problems in schools. When white schools have strict discipline and cell phone bans, but minority schools don’t, which students will get the high-paying better jobs? This is racism.

I agree with this as a student! But unfurtently my school is very old school so they banned cellphones.

Thank you for this helped me with a essay im doing for school. 🙂

i agree so much?

thank you for the info cause i have been having trouble finding an article like that and i found one so thank you!?

I forgot to put that i’m having a debate about using cell phones in class.

Im a current high school student and honestly what I’ve seen is the exact opposite of this. first period English is just a majority of people being on their phones. Unless a teacher is very strict about phones usually nothing is done about it. Honestly my parents disallowing me to bring my phone to school is what changed my grades for the better for the rest of the school year up until now. Also, some students might argue for these points but it’s usually only used as a scapegoat to make the excuse of “Oh but this article says it’s good to use phones!” Still, I’ve seen phones do so much more negatives than positives as well as the points listed here barely ever being utilized.

Yes i think they should allow it for many reasons

Coming in from Parker Middle School so I am doing a essay on why we should be able to have phones in schools and even class rooms and I was wondering if you could have your word to support having cell phones in school.

phones are what brought you into this world be thankful

I love the way you used cell phones in the classroom. Me personally-I use mine for extracurriculars.

As a High School teacher, I pretty much dislike the use of cellphones. If used for emergency, yes that’s a legitimate argument and in such case, cell phones need to be accessible to students in case of an emergency. However that would be the only reason cellphones should be allowed in classrooms. I studied high school without a cellphone and I was able to be engaged, organized and learned by using other technologies. This article doesn’t mention the pros and cons of allowing cellphones in classrooms and does not consider if the benefits weigh more than the disadvantages.

Thank you this website is amazing hope I get an A+ for my argumentative essay. Wish Me Luck!

Thanks I will use this for my topic

As a teacher at my school, I can say the cell phones are 99% more a distraction than ever as a learning tool. All the kids on the phones during class is to play video games. and look at non educational sites so that’s why cell phones are banned in my classrooms. I would say if the kids understood accountability and are responsible, then it’s a different discussion.

i can use this for my project . Almost all my classmates try to sneak there phone in class . But they always get in trouble . They don’t need a phone becuase it is can make you fail class and other things that is a proably

Very valid points. I am using you as a source for my essay. Thank you.

Thanks this helped me with my Delve Project

Hi, my name is Eli and I am an 8th grader at Indianola Middle School in Iowa. I am doing a research project about a topic of my choice and I chose to research Should phones be allowed in class. I think you would be a great person to give me more information about this topic because you gave great points and reasons why phones should be allowed in school classrooms.

Thank you so much for this article, Love your work!!!

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Banning mobile phones in schools: beneficial or risky? Here’s what the evidence says

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Victorian education minister James Merlino’s announcement mobile phones will be banned for all students at state primary and secondary schools is certainly a bold move.

The policy has been justified as a direct response to mounting levels of cyberbullying, concerns over distractions and schools struggling with discipline relating to students’ misuse of phones.

Students will have to switch off their phones and store them in lockers from the start of the school day until the final bell. In case of an emergency, parents or guardians can reach their child by calling the school.

The minister said in a statement :

The only exceptions to the ban will be where students use phones to monitor health conditions, or where teachers instruct students to bring their phone for a particular classroom activity.

Whether to allow student use of mobile phones in school is certainly a hot topic in education. The Victorian announcement follows a French government ban on mobiles in school in 2018. Debates on the issue are also taking place in Denmark , Sweden and the United Kingdom .

There is considerable public support for banning mobiles. In our recently conducted survey of more than 2,000 Australian adults, nearly 80% supported a ban on mobile phones in classrooms. Just under one-third supported an outright ban from schools altogether.

Support for a classroom ban was remarkably consistent across different demographics, including political affiliation and age group.

But while banning phones from classrooms, and from school altogether, might seem sensible, there are number of reasons to be cautious. It’s clear we need to carefully consider how we want to make use of digital devices being brought into schools. But previous experience, such as in New York, suggests a blanket ban might introduce even more problems.

And the little research evidence that addresses the issue is mixed.

What’s the evidence?

Reports of cyberbullying have clearly gone up among school-aged children and young people over the past ten years, but the nature and precedents of cyberbullying are complex.

Research suggests there is a large overlap between cyberbullying and traditional forms of bullying, which wouldn’t then follow that digital devices are somehow causing these behaviours.

Cyberbullying also often takes place outside school hours and premises. There is a danger banning phones from classrooms might distract education staff from having to continue with efforts to address the more immediate causes of cyberbullying.

Read more: Teenagers need our support, not criticism, as they navigate life online

There is also a growing literature exploring the links between digital devices and classroom distractions. The presence of phones in the classroom is certainly found to be a source of multi-tasking among students of all ages – some of which can be educationally relevant and much of which might not.

But the impact of these off-task behaviours on student learning outcomes is difficult to determine. A review of 132 academic studies concluded, it is

difficult to determine directions and mechanisms of the causal relations between mobile phone multitasking and academic performance.

There is also a strong sense from classroom research that issues of distraction apply equally to laptops , iPads and other digital devices.

All told, the sense from academic literature is that the realities of smartphone use in classrooms are complex and decidedly messy. Our own research into how smartphones are being used in Victorian classrooms highlighted the difficulties teachers face in policing student use (what some teachers described as requiring “five minutes of firefighting” at the beginning of every lesson).

Despite this, we also found instances of students using smartphones for a range of beneficial purposes – from impromptu information seeking to live-streaming lessons for sick classmates.

Read more: Schools are asking students to bring digital devices to class, but are they actually being used?

These benefits are also reflected in classroom studies elsewhere in the world. Research from Stanford University has demonstrated , for instance, that with proper support and preparation, teachers in even the most challenging schools can “build on the ways students already use technology outside of school to help them learn in the classroom”.

There is now a whole academic field known as “ m-Learning ” where researchers have explored the pedagogical and learning advantages of using mobile devices (including phones) in lessons.

But what about a blanket ban from school altogether? Experience from elsewhere suggests enforcing a mobile ban in schools may not be as easy as it sounds.

What we can learn from others

The New South Wales government announced a review into the benefits and risks of mobile phone use in schools in June 2018, led by child psychologist Michael Carr-Gregg. At the review’s completion, the government said it would only ban mobile phones from the state’s primary schools, leaving secondary schools free to make their own choice.

We recognise that technology plays an important and increasing role as students progress through their education […] We want to give secondary schools the flexibility to balance the benefits and risks of technology in the way that best supports their students.

Perhaps the most pertinent example is the ban enforced in New York City from 2006, that was eventually lifted in 2015.

The reasons given for this reversal highlighted several of the concerns the new ban in Victoria will likely face. They include practical difficulties of enforcing a ban in the classroom being exacerbated by banning of phone use during break times and lunchtimes.

First, it was clear the New York ban was being inconsistently enforced by schools – with better resourced schools in more affluent areas more likely to bend the rules and permit student use. In contrast, schools in lower-income areas with metal detectors were more likely to be rigidly enforcing the ban.

Other motivations for lifting the ban were concerns over student safety such as the need for students to contact family members during break times and lunchtimes. Families were also incurring costs to store phones securely outside of the school. There was also a recognition teachers should be trusted to exercise their professional judgement as to how they could be making good educational use of devices in their lessons.

Read more: Should mobile phones be banned in schools? We asked five experts

At the same time, it was reckoned government resources were better directed toward supporting students to learn how to use technology responsibly through cyber-safety lessons.

All these reasons are as relevant now to Victorian schools as they were to New York City schools in 2015. The use (and non-use) of mobile phones in schools is certainly an issue we need to have a proper conversation about. But it might not be as clear-cut as the recent policy announcements suggest.

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Banning Cell Phones in Schools: Balancing Benefits and Concerns

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Cell Phones in School: Should Be Banned, Restricted or Allowed?

Why Cell Phones in School Should Be Banned?

The use of mobile phones in schools has attracted the attention of many individuals, state organizations, learning institutions, the media and the society at large. Different views have been raised on the positive impacts and the negative repercussion that come as a result of the use of mobile phones in schools. Although some positive aspects can be drawn from the use of mobile phones in schools, the negative impacts are saddening and the need to be looked at with great caution. Poor school performance of children and cheating in exams can be attributed to the use of mobile phones in schools.

School children with mobile phones tend to have a short span of attention in class due to various activities, as surfing the internet, playing games and texting. These children are also likely to cheat in exams by searching for answers through the internet or texting their colleagues for answers. Likewise, cases of mobile phone theft increase due to the urge of getting better phones to those who already have and the desire of having a phone to the poor children who cannot afford it. These should thus give an alarm to the school board to ban the use of mobile phones.

One of the major reasons why the use of mobile phones by school children should be banned is because it promotes cheating during exams. The mobile phones may provide good avenues for the children to cheat in exams and thus earn undeserved credits. Children use the taken pictures of class notes, videos, text messaging as well as wireless earbuds to gain access to materials that assist them during the exams. According to the National School Resource Officer Survey in 2004 by NASRO, it was estimated that more than 41 percent had reported handling cases of students using mobile phones improperly. The officers reported that among the improper ways school children had used mobile phones included cheating in exams, particularly through text messaging and the internet.

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Another reason why the school board should ban the use of mobile phones is due to the short span of attention by the children. Student’s concentration in class is distracted on various occasions in the presence of mobile phones. In certain instances, the disturbance can be carried on to the rest of the children in class if the phone rings out loud. This is more likely to happen and cause a lot of distraction, hampering the learning process if these phones are not put in silent mode. Moreover, if a phone is put in silent mode or on vibration, it distracts the owner leading to a short attention span in class. If a call or message, for instance, comes in, the student loses concentration and diverts their attention towards reading the message or answering the call. These lower the student’s understanding of things taught in class and in turn results in poor performance.

It is essential for the school board to note that the use of mobile phones by children promotes theft. The changing technology results in the production of more attractive and expensive mobile phones that not every child can afford. Theft complaints are thus not going to stop anytime soon if the use of mobile phones in schools will not be banned. Despite the fact that some of the children already own mobile phones, they will be tempted to steal the more sophisticated ones from their friends. The poor children who cannot afford a cell phone are no exemption and they are most likely to steal any type of phone for them to own one. It is best if schools ban their use to prevent such cases of theft.

It is thus justifiable to conclude that the school board has a big part to play in making the learning environment suitable for all the children. The ban on the use of mobile phones will be very beneficial to all and would lead to better performance. The children’s concentration span in class would improve, cheating in exams would be minimized and cases of mobile phone theft in schools would be forgotten. If the school board embraces the idea of making it illegal to use mobile phones, the society will benefit and the school children will all have a favorable environment to learn.

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Why Cell Phones in School Should Be Restricted?

People create different devices and machines due to the constant growth of human needs and demands. It is connected with the appropriate improvement in the quality of life. In fact, the creation of such a modern device as a cell phone refers to great wonders of the twenty-first century, even if its use at school is under great concern. Thus, the development of the cell phone and its regular use can improve the process of studying at school, but it can also destruct the way students thinking and learning.

The cell phone makes a revolution in education. It widens children’s outlook and suggests new ways and approaches for learning more information in different subjects through video use. It becomes evident that “allowing students to use cell phones in the classroom for specific, academic purposes has the power to increase student engagement and allow teachers to more effectively assess learning on a daily basis” (Giambalvo).

It means that the particular use of this device contributes to the development of creativity and interactive experience. Students can get free access to a large number of sources which can be essential in studying. In this case, juniors are motivated to set their goals and reach them observing different videos based on the learning topics. Additionally, this issue includes social and emotional aspects that show how an individual can assess himself/herself to reveal the appropriate persistence and diligence. Thus, modern teachers consider cell phones as a useful tool for learning, which makes studying easier and more interesting.

The cell phones provide new effective ways of learning for those who try to overcome the difficulties with the second language. In this case, it’s primary purpose is to improve the limits of students’ vocabulary. With the help of mobile dictionaries, students can memorize many new words including their translation and spelling. They also develop their vocabulary while writing a test after reading the assignment, which seems to be rather difficult (Lu 515). The point is that students do not have any limitation to learn more words every time they look up a new one and its various meanings. It is known that lexical information improves the intellect, and students’ speech becomes better. Therefore, the effectiveness of cell phone use is obvious, and it is necessary to further develop this approach.

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On the other hand, cell phones cause cheating and unceasing ringing that destroys classroom policies at school. Many teachers claim that “the technology is considered a serious source of distraction in the classroom” because it has a negative impact on academic performance (Campbell 280). In such a way, plagiarism becomes a common problem that exists among students. After finishing high schools, they are not ready to develop and create their own ideas. Students have boundless access to the Internet, thus they simply copy and paste the suggested information. It brings harm to the students’ studying as they do not make any considerable effort to develop their own intellectual skills and abilities in the process of learning. Additionally, teachers often complain that they cannot concentrate on the representation of new material due to the ringing in the class.

Moreover, parents notice that their children stop paying much attention to the school assignments but talk over the phone all the time. Perhaps, it is a precise result of parents’ numerous requests to allow their children to use mobile phones at school as they are against the past ban (Taylor). Thus, the cell phone becomes children’s obsession as they gradually begin to depend on this advanced technology.

In conclusion, the use of the cell phone improves the quality of studying as teachers can apply various teaching videos. Students can also learn the second foreign language via the cell phone by consulting the dictionary and memorizing new words as well as establishing communication and interacting with each other. However, the use of cell phones has several disadvantages while studying: the main one is cheating. This leads to reducing students’ own knowledge because they are out of practice. Therefore, it is necessary to restrict the use of cell phones at school in order to avoid plagiarism which is not good for students studying.

Why Cell Phones in School Should Be Allowed?

In terms of using cell phones in school, various improvements have been established at different schools, which benefited students since their privacy has been improved as well as an effective and essential means of communication was implemented. Schools are trying out various policies that allow having cell phones at schools with some permitting students to use their phones only during breaks or at lunchtime. Other schools are encouraging students to have cell phones at school in order to enhance the educational process, the main purpose of which is to improve understanding in the classroom.

This is helpful in various ways since it provides suitable platforms for enhancing educational understanding. Other policies that were implemented allow students to carry cell phones to school and use them after classes and at breaks. The phones should be kept in lockers or backpacks during classes. This is unlike the policy of some schools that allow phones and encourage students to carry them to school and use them in class for their educational advantage.

Cell phones use in high school during break times should, therefore, be allowed because of personal rights, privacy issues, and effective and essential communication. The use of cell phones during breaks prevents students from losing attention in class and allows them to maintain necessary communications with their parents as well as provides them with the advantages of e-learning tools. Allowing students to use cell phones at school gives students the right to personal life and privacy. In addition, cell phones enhance research and improve students’ understanding since they have more access to information that is available on the Internet.

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Where Should Students Be Allowed to Use Cellphones? Here’s What Educators Say

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Corrected : A chart in a previous version of this story contained incorrect percentages for where educators say students should be allowed to use cellphones.

To ban or not to ban? This question has been front and center for many schools recently as they strategize how to address students’ ubiquitous use of cellphones.

With nearly 9 in 10 teens 13 and older possessing a smartphone , these devices have become a major source of distraction and disruption in schools, especially when students’ online arguments spill over into in-school arguments and physical fights.

And many educators and school support staff feel that students’ constant access to social media on their smartphones is harming their mental wellbeing and hurting their ability to learn. Some educators go so far to say that students are addicted to their devices.

Nearly a quarter of teachers, principals, and district leaders think that cellphones should be banned from school grounds, according to a recent nationwide survey conducted in September and October by the EdWeek Research Center.

But, overall, educators are divided on the issue.

“We should be learning to manage cellphones in the classroom. They are here to stay,” one educator said in the survey. “BUT they are the biggest distraction.”

Said another survey respondent: “We recently banned cellphones. Previously, they were allowed during passing time and at lunch. However, they had taken over instructional time. Students would get out their phones without thinking and teachers would have to spend as much time redirecting as they were teaching. That, or have a power struggle over confiscation.”

But schools face headwinds from students and parents—many of whom want to be able to reach their children throughout the day—when they try to restrict students’ access to cellphones during the school day.

And as the charts below show, in many cases there’s a yawning gap between what students are allowed to do and what educators think would be best for schools.

For example, nearly three-quarters of teachers, principals, and district leaders say that high school students in their schools and districts are allowed to use their phones during lunch, but only half believe that should be permitted.

The survey also found that a significantly larger share of teachers are in favor of banning cellphones on campus than district leaders. Principals were more in line with teachers than district leaders on that decision.

The following charts show where students are allowed to use cellphones on campus, where educators think phones should be permitted, and how teachers, principals, and district leaders differ on the issue of an all-out cellphone ban.

Data analysis for this article was provided by the EdWeek Research Center. Learn more about the center’s work.

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Should Schools Ban Phones?

As You Read, Think About:  What are some reasons schools don’t allow students to have phones in class?

Sixth-grade teacher Angie Charky has a no-phones rule in her class. But she says getting students to follow it is tiring. 

“They’ll put the phone away for like a minute and pull it right back out,” she explains. 

Charky is looking forward to January. That’s when her district will implement a ban on smartphones in schools. Charky works in the Los Angeles Unified School District in California. It serves more than 420,000 students. 

The phone ban in Los Angeles is part of a growing trend. And it’s not just districts that are making the change. Florida, Indiana, and Ohio have passed statewide laws limiting phone use in public schools. Other states are considering similar laws.

Like Charky, many teachers support phone bans. They say kids are more engaged when they aren’t always looking at their devices. They also argue that phone bans cut down on cheating. But other teachers point out that phones can be helpful for schoolwork and in emergencies. 

Sixth-grade teacher Angie Charky has a no-phones rule in her class. But getting students to follow it is tiring.

Charky is looking forward to January. That’s when her district will implement a ban on smartphones in schools. Charky works in the Los Angeles Unified School District. That is in California. It serves more than 420,000 students. 

The phone ban in Los Angeles is part of a growing trend. And it’s not just districts that are making the change. Florida, Indiana, and Ohio have passed statewide laws that limit phone use in public schools. Other states are considering similar laws.

Charky isn’t alone in supporting phone bans. Many other teachers do too. They say kids are more engaged when they aren’t always looking at their devices. They also argue that phone bans cut down on cheating. But other teachers point out that phones can be beneficial. They can be helpful for schoolwork. They can also be important in emergencies.

Should students be banned from having phones in school?

Many educators say phone use in schools has gotten out of control. Christopher Knox is a fourth-grade teacher in Flagler Beach, Florida. He says it doesn’t take much for phones to cause a major distraction in class. 

“One little chime sets off the whole class, as every student with a phone checks to see if it’s theirs,” he says. 

Many educators say phone use in schools has gotten out of control. Christopher Knox is a fourth-grade teacher in Flagler Beach, Florida. He says it doesn’t take much for phones to distract kids. 

“One little chime sets off the whole class,” he says. “Every student with a phone checks to see if it’s theirs.” 

97% of kids ages 11 to 17 use their phones during school hours.

Source: Common Sense Media

Charky hopes that not being allowed to text or play games will be a positive change for her students. 

“I think they’ll be more focused on what we’re talking about in class,” she says.  

Knox says his school’s no-phones rule also encourages students to be more social. 

“The cafeteria gets very loud during lunch,” he explains. “But I love that the students are actually talking to each other!”

Charky hopes the ban will be a positive change for her students. 

Knox says his school’s no-phones rule encourages students to be more social. 

Rick Bowmer/AP Photo

At some schools, students are required to keep their phones in special pouches until the end of the day. 

Most teachers agree that they don’t want a classroom full of kids texting. But some say a total ban on phones isn’t fair to students. 

“Cell phones have become a key part of everybody’s communication,” says Stevie Frank. She’s a technology coach and former fifth-grade teacher in Zionsville, Indiana. 

Frank argues that phones can be useful learning tools. For example, she would let her fifth-graders use their phones to create podcasts and videos for projects.

“Cell phones have become a key part of everybody’s communication,” says Stevie Frank. She’s a technology coach. She’s also a former fifth-grade teacher in Zionsville, Indiana.

Frank argues that phones can be useful learning tools. For example, she would let her fifth-graders use their phones to create podcasts. They would also use their phones to make videos for projects.

79% of parents say kids should be allowed to use their phones in school at least sometimes.

Source: National Parents Union Survey

Allowing phones in schools makes life easier for many families. Nikko Stroble is a fifth-grader in Carlsbad, California. His parents might text him if a pickup plan has changed or if he forgot his lunch. Nikko says phones can also help students feel safe.

“Kids might need to reach out to their parents if something goes wrong,” he says.

Allowing phones in schools makes life easier for many families. Nikko Stroble is a fifth-grader in Carlsbad, California. His parents might text him if a pickup plan has changed. They also text him if he forgot his lunch. Nikko says phones can help students feel safe.

Should schools ban phones?

Close-Reading Questions

• What does the author mean when he writes that “it’s not just districts that are making the change”?
• Why does Christopher Knox say that his school cafeteria gets very loud during lunch? 
• Based on the article, how might allowing phones in schools make life easier for many families?

El gran debate

¿Se deberían prohibir los celulares en las escuelas?

Al leer, piensa en: ¿Por qué motivos algunas escuelas no dejan usar el celular en clase?

Angie Charky, maestra de sexto grado, tiene prohibido el uso de celulares en su clase. Pero dice que es agotador lograr que los estudiantes lo cumplan. 

“Guardan el aparato un minuto y vuelven a sacarlo”, explica. 

Charky está deseando que llegue enero. Entonces, su distrito implementará la prohibición del uso de celulares en las escuelas. Charky trabaja en el Distrito Escolar Unificado de Los Ángeles, California.

La prohibición del uso de los celulares en Los Ángeles forma parte de una tendencia cada vez mayor. Y no solo los distritos están introduciendo cambios. Florida, Indiana y Ohio han aprobado leyes estatales que limitan el uso del celular en las escuelas públicas. Otros estados están considerando leyes similares. 

Como Charky, muchos maestros apoyan la prohibición del uso del celular. Dicen que los niños se implican más cuando no están pegados a sus dispositivos. También afirman que la ley evita que hagan trampas. Pero otros maestros señalan que los celulares son útiles para hacer la tarea y en casos de emergencia.

¿Se debería prohibir a los alumnos tener celulares en la escuela?

Muchos educadores afirman que el uso del celular en las escuelas está fuera de control. Christopher Knox es maestro de cuarto grado en Flagler Beach, Florida. Dice que es fácil que un celular distraiga a toda la clase. 

“Un pitido hace que toda la clase se alborote, ya que todos los alumnos que tienen uno miran a ver si es el suyo”, dice.

El 97% de los niños de 11 a 17 años utilizan el celular en horas de clase.

Fuente: Common Sense Media

Charky confía en que el no poder enviar mensajes ni jugar sea un cambio positivo para sus alumnos. 

“Creo que se centrarán más en lo que hablamos en clase”, dice. 

Knox dice que la norma de no usar el móvil anima a los alumnos a ser 

más sociables. 

“Hay mucho ruido en la cafetería en el almuerzo—explica—. ¡Pero me encanta que los estudiantes hablen entre ellos!”.

En algunas escuelas, los alumnos deben guardar sus aparatos en fundas especiales hasta el final del día. 

Casi todos los maestros coinciden en que no quieren un salón de clases lleno de niños que envían mensajes. Pero hay quienes afirman que prohibir totalmente los celulares no es justo para los alumnos. 

“Los móviles son ya una pieza clave en la comunicación”, dice Stevie Frank. Es formadora en tecnología y ex maestra de quinto grado en Zionsville, Indiana.

Frank defiende que los celulares sirven para aprender. Por ejemplo, ella dejaba que sus alumnos de quinto usaran sus celulares para crear podcasts y videos para los proyectos.

El 79% de los padres dice que los niños deberían poder usar el celular en la escuela al menos de vez en cuando.

Fuente: National Parents Union Survey

Permitir el celular en la escuela hace la vida más fácil a muchas familias. Nikko Stroble, de Carlsbad, California, está en quinto. Sus papás le pueden escribir si cambiaron el plan de recogerle o si olvidó su almuerzo. Además, dice Nikko, con el celular los niños se sienten más seguros.

“Si algo va mal, tal vez los niños necesiten avisar a sus padres”, dice.

Preguntas de lectura en detalle

1. ¿Qué quiere decir el autor al afirmar que “no solo los distritos están introduciendo cambios”?

2. ¿Por qué dice Christopher Knox que en la cafetería de su escuela hay mucho ruido en el almuerzo?

3. Según el artículo, ¿cómo podría hacer la vida más fácil a muchas familias el permitir los celulares en las escuelas?

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Mobile phones in schools: all you need to know

Mobile phones in schools and their use by students has been a contentious topic ever since the first devices started appearing on campus in the late 1990s and early 2000s.

Since then, as their capabilities have grown and social media has proliferated, schools and governments have adopted various methods to try to tackle the problems they are thought to cause - from behaviour to bullying.

Often this leads to calls for outright bans on devices, which is seen as the simplest and most effective solution, while others argue that this is too simplistic an approach. But what does the official guidance say, what are schools doing and can research shed light on the best approach?

Banning phones in school: what does the DfE guidance say?

The Department for Education has, in the past, made a lot of noise about giving schools the power to ban phones , arguing that it ensures a distraction-free learning environment.

“By prohibiting mobile phones, schools can create safe and calm environments free from distraction so all pupils can receive the education they deserve,” Gillian Keegan, then education secretary, wrote in a foreword to new guidance published in February.

However, while much was made of this at the time, the guidance is non-statutory and only advisory - and its four proposals stop short of outright bans.

• No mobile phones on the school premises - as it sounds, no devices can be brought to school and any found will be confiscated.
• Mobile phone handed in on arrival - this suggests pupils should hand phones in on arrival before receiving them at the end of the day (it also helpfully notes that schools should be aware students may hand in a phone but still “have another mobile in their possession”).
• Mobile phones kept in secure location, which the pupil does not access throughout the school day - similar to the above but rather than staff collecting them, they are placed in secure bags or lockers so they are inaccessible during the school day.
• Never used, seen or heard - a policy where pupils keep possession of their mobile phones on the strict condition that they are never used, seen or heard - with consequences for breaching this that are sufficient to act as an effective deterrent.

Despite headlines claiming the government is outlawing mobile phones in schools, it is actually up to individual schools or multi-academy trusts to set their own guidelines and reinforce them as they choose.

What about other parts of the UK?

In Scotland, the government has given authority to schools to implement full bans if they wish, but this is not legally required.

“Members will know that I do not currently have the power to ban mobile phones as cabinet secretary,” the education secretary Jenny Gilruth told MSPs earlier this year .

“However, the updated national guidance goes as far towards a national ban as I am currently able to, by setting out the government’s clear support for whole-school bans.”

In Wales, meanwhile, the cabinet secretary for education Lynne Neagle has answered questions about phone use in schools, saying it is for school leaders to decide on the best policy approach.

So what approaches are schools and trusts taking?

Given this mix of options, it is unsurprising that different schools of thought, and therefore different approaches, exist.

Those in favour of a mobile phone ban:

One example is Mark Emmerson, CEO of the City of London Academies Trust and a Department for Education behaviour adviser, who has written in Tes saying he believes a full ban is always required and it is a policy he has implemented since phones first started appearing.

“To me, anything other than a blanket ban during school hours invites behaviour that can lead to significant concerns for young people,” he wrote.

“This ranges from the relatively benign but insidious ‘heads down’ sharing of social media posts when children should be socially interacting and active during breaks, to more concerning behaviour, such as recording others without consent, social media bullying, sharing inappropriate images and the propagation of influencer misinformation.”

Meanwhile, a similar view is taken at Education South West: “Our general position as a trust is that phones are banned in schools,” says Robert Coles, executive headteacher and director of school improvement at the trust.

“We want our pupils to interact with each other. We feel our clear stance supports the mental wellbeing of our pupils.”

Those against outright bans:

Others though, such as the CEO of Turner Schools, Seamus Murphy, have given headteachers in their trusts the autonomy to make their own decision on phones - with interesting outcomes.

He explains that one of the schools takes “what might be viewed as the most ‘relaxed’ approach”; pupils are allowed to use them during break time, but with clear rules around when they cannot be used in lesson times.

This policy came about as a direct result of wanting to tackle issues with phone use, including issues on social media occurring outside school but then having an impact on site.

“Rather than put an outright ban in place during school hours, which clearly would have no impact on phones being used outside the school gates, the school took what I see as a smarter strategic move to look at the behaviour around the use of mobiles,” he says.

This led to the introduction of a programme of education that offers specific support on managing social media, such as cyber-bullying, managing yourself in the online world and avoiding being influenced by extremism.

He says as a result, the number of incidents reported to school staff linked to phones has dropped by 80 per cent and “the vast majority of pupils report feeling safer in school”.

A similar mix of approaches can be seen among international schools, with some opting for campus bans, but others, such as Aiglon in Switzerland, giving students more freedom on phone use within clear times, or establishing locations where use is forbidden .

“We want to teach students the art of self-regulation,” wrote its then deputy school director Tomas Duckling in October 2023.

“Our objective is not to mould students who merely follow orders when they must and then ignore them the moment they can - such as indulging in heavy phone use the moment they leave campus.”

Others have adopted approaches where a pupil’s age affects their phone use, such as at Streatham and Clapham High School, where the rule is that years 7 to 10 face a total school-day ban, but Year 11s and above have more freedom.

“Our Year 11 and sixth form have the social maturity and newly adult brain to be less compelled by the algorithms: they are much more intentional and self-aware about their habits, health and wellbeing,” explains headteacher Cathy Ellott.

Should mobile phones be banned in schools? What the research says

While schools and trust are adopting varying approaches, the fact that phones have been in schools for so long now means there is a small but growing body of research starting to appear about different approaches to their use.

One interesting study appeared in Norway earlier this year which, using data on student grades and regularity of student consultation with psychologists and GPs at 477 middle schools, found the number of girls requiring specialist medical care was 60 per cent less once a ban was implemented.

Furthermore, bullying reduced by 43 per cent for boys after four years of a ban being in place, and 46 per cent for girls after three years.

Another report, meanwhile, claimed students at schools where phones are banned throughout the day achieved GCSE results one to two grades higher than schools without a ban, and the school was more likely to receive an “outstanding” Ofsted rating - although these findings should be taken with a pinch of salt .

Perhaps most notably though, a recent study led by academics at the Queensland University of Technology in Australia looked at 22 different studies on the impact of mobile phone bans and/or restrictions in relation to several key metrics.

The findings? Those who back bans may want to look away now: “[Our findings] showed little to no conclusive evidence that ‘one-size-fits-all’ mobile phone bans in schools resulted in improved academic outcomes, mental health and wellbeing, and reduced cyberbullying.”

Instead, they say it is clear that, given the prominent role mobile phones now play in the world, students need to be taught about responsible phone use - something schools are best placed to do: “We argue that schools are ideally placed for educating and safeguarding young people from the challenges related to new technology.”

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What's behind the ban on cell phones in K-12 schools?

A growing number of states and schools are now banning or restricting cell phones. johns hopkins experts carol vidal and annette anderson explain the research and weigh in on the controversial policies..

By Emily Gaines Buchler

This school year, many of the nation's adolescents and teens are sitting in class without the device that can sometimes feel like an added appendage: their smartphones.

States such as Florida, Indiana, Ohio, South Carolina, and Louisiana have passed laws recently to ban or restrict cell phones in K-12 schools, while countless school districts in dozens of other states have implemented policies to limit use.

Image caption: Annette Anderson and Carol Vidal

In Maryland, more than 20 school districts launched programs at the start of the school year to keep phones turned off and out of sight. Baltimore County Public Schools, for instance, introduced a pilot program in 16 middle and high schools that requires students to lock devices in "cell phone pouches" at the start of every class. Similarly, Howard County high school students must stow phones in backpacks and use them only between classes and during lunch, while elementary and middle school students can't use them at all, unless an administrator makes an exception for a special event or to reward positive behavior.

What's driving the slew of policies?

Mounting research suggests that smartphone use may be fueling the country's mental health crisis among youth—and leading to problems in schools that range from dwindling attention spans to a lack of engagement in learning and stymied social-emotional development.

To discuss the research and policies, the Hub recently met with Carol Vidal , a child and adolescent psychiatrist at the Johns Hopkins Children's Center and an assistant professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine , and Annette C. Anderson , deputy director of the Johns Hopkins Center for Safe and Healthy Schools and an assistant professor in the Johns Hopkins School of Education . In this condensed version of the conversation, Vidal and Anderson discuss their findings from research and share insight on their firsthand experience with kids and teens at school.

Dr. Vidal, you published a study this past May in the International Journal of Mental Health and Addiction that investigates links between social media use and mental health. What did you learn?

Vidal: Much of the discussion surrounding social media use focuses on whether it's the cause of the current mental health crisis that involves increased rates of depression and anxiety among youth. I don't really think that's the case. What our study shows—and what most of the research indicates—is that people with higher rates of depression tend to use social media more. That doesn't mean, however, that one causes the other. It just means that people who are high users of social media or have problematic social media use also tend to be more depressed. But it's not clear that one causes the other. In our study, for example, social media use did not increase depression over time.

What is clear, however, is that social media is a tool that gives access to a broad range of content. It's also intentionally designed with features that make it addictive. Developers and designers want users to stay engaged as they interact with their platforms—that's how they make money. The goal is to expose users to an endless stream of content. The more interesting the content is to the user, the longer they will stay engaged and see ads.

Another finding from research is that excessive social media use is linked to unhealthy behaviors that affect not only mental health but also physical health. These include behaviors like staying up too late at night and spending less time outdoors, which are associated with internalizing disorders—depression, anxiety—that involve emotional distress. These disorders have increased among youth in the last two decades when young people have also been spending more time at home, instead of going out to interact with the world.

What does a social media addiction look like?

Vidal: A large percentage of people who use social media have problematic social media use, which means they engage with it in unhealthy ways, thinking about it constantly and centering their lives around it. They use it excessively, too, and feel they don't have control over their use. It takes them away from doing things that are healthier for their development, such as spending time outside, getting enough physical activity and sleep, focusing on school and work, and reading a book for pleasure. This is especially risky for children and teens because their brains are still developing, and they have less control over their impulses.

It's also difficult for younger people because this is often how they socialize. Their relationships involve and sometimes revolve around social media. This makes social media hard for kids and teens—and hard for parents and teachers—to moderate.

Studies show that social media and other screen addictions are similar to, say, a drug or alcohol addiction. All addictions involve the neurotransmitter dopamine. And just like with any addiction, social media engagement—the comments, the likes, and so on—can release dopamine, which acts as a reward that stimulates the system and makes a person feel good temporarily. That's how people get hooked.

Dr. Anderson, what happens, then, when kids and teens have access to a potentially addictive form of media at school via their cell phones?

Anderson: Let me start by saying this: Most parents gave their kids cell phones so they could have immediate access to communicate. In this era of school shootings, phones became a matter of safety—and a matter of coordinating the busy schedules and lives of modern families. It had nothing to do with giving kids access to video games and platforms like Instagram and Snapchat. That was an unintentional consequence.

But what parents and teachers are seeing is that smartphones have created all sorts of problems. Some students take and post inappropriate videos. Fights in schools go viral because students record and then post footage online. And students are distracted in class because they're addicted to the apps that beg for their attention.

Smartphones are also changing how our young people pay attention. They're distracted, and it now seems like practically everyone has ADHD because they're being constantly bombarded with images, sounds, and all kinds of actions that are potentially interfering with their capacity to concentrate in school.

And kids and teens aren't the only ones. Many of us sleep with our smartphones. We're all paying the consequences. Family mealtimes, which give kids and caregivers a chance to connect, talk through what happened during the day, and a lot more—all of this is going by the wayside, in large part because of phones.

How does student cell phone use in classrooms affect teachers? What are you hearing from administrators and teachers and seeing firsthand in schools?

Anderson: So many educators have told me they're unable to do the jobs they're called to do because of the constant disruptions. Whether students have earbuds or headphones, they're distracted. As a society, we're losing our capacity to say that the time spent at school is sacred for learning because we've disrupted it with constant images, sounds, and actions that detract and distract from the day-to-day mission of instruction.

In addition to academics, phones are hurting social relationships and disrupting the developmental capacity of young people to experience joy in a conversation and understand how to give other people a chance to share in a group setting. All of this is evident in the school cafeteria, where everyone is staring down at a phone, instead of practicing social skills—not just taking turns but also thinking about and reflecting on the social dynamics, on how to show empathy for others, and even on what topics to bring up to have a conversation. These are the things American society is built on, and our young people are missing out.

School administrators tell me they see the impact every day. Our students are more anxious, more depressed, and less inclined to take risks in getting to know people they might not otherwise know. This, in turn, makes their circle smaller than the schoolhouse should be. The schoolhouse should be about maximum engagement and interactions. Sometimes, particularly if you're an introvert, it becomes easier to use the phone as an escape from having to practice the very social skills that will someday help you in the workforce and in public. For these reasons, I understand that school leaders are at their wits' end in wanting to do what they can to maintain these long-established social mores.

What can families and teachers do to help kids and teens set limits on screen time, whether at school or elsewhere?

Vidal: Smartphone and social media addictions are not yet formal disorders listed in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders , so diagnosis is tricky. But the key is to pay attention to whether it affects functioning in daily life. If kids or teens are neglecting their studies or responsibilities, or if they're going to sleep late or not eating, and the family hasn't been able to help the child moderate their use, then those may be signs to seek help by reaching out to a school counselor or psychologist. With screen addictions like video gaming, for example, some kids will forgo eating and spend all night playing games. I've seen this behavior in some of my patients. Other signs that warrant attention are spending less time outdoors, and to a certain extent, isolating from the world.

Surgeon General issues new advisory about effects social media use has on youth mental health

Ultimately, it's critical for all of us—health care providers, educators, parents and other family members, and friends—to encourage a balance of moderate screen and social media use, outdoor activity, and exercise in today's digital age. Restricting cell phone use in schools is a step in the right direction and an opportunity for children and adolescents to learn to engage with the world in a different way. When someone attempts to quit alcohol or other addictive substances, the first thing they do is empty their home of said substance. The key with screen addictions, I believe, is moderation, and the best way to achieve this is by restricting access to smartphones in certain environments, at least temporarily, so students are not constantly tempted to use it when bored or anxious, and so they can engage more fully with schoolwork, school staff, and the classmates around them.

Anderson: Many kids today are stressed and disconnected. That's why vaping and opioid use are on the rise, and educators need tools to talk about these and other issues in ways that encourage kids to listen. This is the goal of the Johns Hopkins Health Education and Training (HEAT) Corps , a program in the School of Education for which I serve as the curriculum director. With the HEAT Corps, we equip teachers with the awareness and resources they need to understand the many challenges students face today, from long COVID and gun violence to e-cigarettes, cyberbullying, and social media.

I think it's essential—and part of the HEAT Corps' mission—to help young people become self-advocates around cell phone use. As a culture, we've gone from having television go off at 11 o'clock at night—when a flag would appear on-screen, and you'd hear a song and know it's time for bed—to 24-hour programming. We've fundamentally shifted our access to entertainment without implementing the necessary education. Now, we want everything on demand, not just our entertainment but also our deliveries and even our education. We expect things to happen instantaneously, and our capacity to attend to any one topic for more than a few minutes has severely diminished.

The main challenge with schools taking cell phones away is that families have a diminished capacity to immediately contact their child. If you look at social media in the wake of the recent school shooting in Georgia, you'll see parents expressing panic over the school cell phone bans. They don't want their kids to give up their cell phones.

One solution is to develop a device that functions only as a telephone. Another option is to integrate software in schools that disarms apps but still lets kids contact their caregivers. With the current strategy of locking phones in storage pouches, bookbags, or lockers, the jury is out on whether that will work—and whether kids who want to use their phones will bypass the rules and find a work-around. That's why education and awareness are critical in helping kids become self-advocates. As adults, they'll have endless digital content available at their fingertips. The time to teach them healthy behaviors and boundary-setting is now.

Posted in Health , Voices+Opinion , Politics+Society

Tagged education , johns hopkins children's center , adolescents , center for safe and healthy schools , teenagers

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A Cell Phone Ban in School: to Use or not to Use?

The cell phone debate has been raging in schools for the better part of the last decade, if not longer. There are multiple different lenses to this argument, and lately, the idea of a cell phone ban has been put into play in some schools. What is the correct answer? Is there one? One side is adamant that cell phones do not belong in the classroom, while the other side acknowledges that cell phones are now a way of life, and maybe we need to help teach young people how to manage this type of technology since it isn’t going anywhere. But where does the conversation go from here?

The Rise of Cell Phone Use During School Hours

In recent years, student phone use has become one of the largest sources of distraction in schools. Whether it’s texting, gaming, or scrolling through social media platforms, students’ use of cell phones has steadily increased during school hours. With the advent of smartphones, middle and high school teachers report that their students are more distracted than ever during class time, contributing to a decline in academic performance.

According to the P ew Research Center , more than 95% of teenagers in the United States own or have access to a smartphone. This is not just an issue of access; it is also about the significant amount of time students spend on their devices. Social media use, in particular, has skyrocketed, leading some to question the long-term effects on children’s mental health. For school leaders, balancing technology in the classroom with the need to maintain students’ focus has become a major problem.

The Push for Cell Phone Bans in Schools

In response to the growing concerns surrounding student smartphone use, many local school districts and state lawmakers have started considering or implementing cellphone bans. For instance, New York Governor Kathy Hochul and California Governor Gavin Newsom brought the conversation about banning phones in schools to the forefront, each emphasizing concerns over students’ mental health and classroom distractions.

Several public schools, particularly in California, have adopted strict cellphone restrictions. The Roseville City School District, for example, enacted a new policy that prohibits handheld cellphones during instructional time, limiting students’ ability to use their devices. Similarly, the Los Angeles Unified School District, the largest school district in California, has moved toward tighter restrictions. Some school administrators, like Schools Chancellor David Banks of New York City Schools, have implemented cellphone bans or policies aimed at curbing excessive smartphone use during class time.

The Impact of Cell Phone Use on Academic Performance and Mental Health

Many teachers and school officials have argued that cellphone bans are necessary to curb distractions and improve test scores. A significant amount of instructional time is lost due to phone-related interruptions, which can have a direct impact on student achievement. High school teachers often struggle to maintain students’ focus when phones are in their hands, especially with notifications from social media platforms drawing constant attention.

In addition to academic concerns, there is a growing body of evidence linking excessive smartphone use to mental health issues. U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy has warned of the mental health crisis among young people, citing social media addiction as a key contributor. In recent years, researchers have identified a connection between students’ use of smartphones and an increase in mental health concerns such as anxiety, depression, and feelings of isolation.

Social media companies, in particular, have come under fire for their role in perpetuating this mental health crisis. The addictive nature of social media platforms and the constant comparison culture they foster can exacerbate feelings of inadequacy and stress in young people. As a result, school leaders and policymakers have begun to view cellphone bans not only as a way to boost academic performance but also as a means of protecting the mental health of our youth.

The Role of State Legislation and Local School Districts

At both the state level and local level, lawmakers and school boards are grappling with how best to handle the issue of student cellphone use. In California, Assembly Bill 272 was introduced as an effort to give local school districts more authority to set cellphone policies. This move came after years of debate and increasing pressure from parents and educators who were concerned about the impact of smartphones on students’ well-being.

School districts in South Carolina and New York have also been experimenting with various approaches to cellphone restrictions. Some charter schools have gone so far as to implement complete cellphone bans during the entire school day, while others are adopting more flexible cellphone policies that allow for limited phone usage outside of class time. These policy decisions are often met with mixed reactions from students, parents, and school staff.

Are Cell Phone Bans the Best Solution?

While cellphone bans may seem like an effective solution to the issues of classroom distractions and mental health concerns, not everyone agrees that they are the best approach. Some argue that banning phones entirely ignores the reality of life in the digital age. Instead of prohibiting phone usage, they suggest that schools should focus on teaching students how to manage their time and use technology responsibly.

Middle school teachers, in particular, see an opportunity to guide students through the challenges of social media use and smartphone management. They argue that teaching digital literacy skills can help students develop healthy habits and better cope with the pressures of social media platforms. According to the California School Boards Association, this could involve working closely with social media companies to promote best practices and minimize the negative effects of excessive smartphone use.

In a world where technology is ubiquitous, students need to learn how to balance their online lives with their academic and personal responsibilities. Educators and school officials are increasingly recognizing the importance of helping students develop these skills rather than simply removing the technology from their hands.

Finding a Balance Between Technology and Learning

So, where do schools go from here? It seems that the issue of cell phones in schools requires a more nuanced approach than a one-size-fits-all cellphone ban. Schools need to find a place of focus, where students can benefit from the advantages of smartphones—such as access to information and educational apps—without falling victim to the distractions of social media and messaging.

School administrators and policymakers may need to adopt a hybrid approach that balances technology use with restrictions during class time. Some schools have introduced policies that allow students to use their phones only during non-instructional time, such as lunch breaks or at the end of the school day. This approach ensures that phones are not a distraction during lessons while still acknowledging students’ desire to stay connected.

Moreover, it is essential for educators to receive adequate training on how to incorporate smartphones into their classrooms in a productive way. This may involve creating digital literacy programs that teach students how to use their phones for research, organization, and collaboration while minimizing distractions.

No Ban? No Problem.

Some schools will not enter the arena of policing cell phone usage, and the students know this. How can a teacher possibly fight this uphill battle? This idea might be even easier than you think.

Allow the students to charge their phones in your classroom!

Set up a charging station, preferably close to your desk if room allows for it. Have surge protectors, multiple charging ports, etc. While some balk at this idea (as if you’re aiding the issue) the fact of the matter is if they’re charging their phones, they can’t be on them. You can even make the rule that if the phone is charging, they cannot get it until the end of the class period.

Another option is to USE them in the classroom. Find apps that fit in with your curriculum and have the students download them and utilize them. We are living in a world where phones will most likely always be at an arms reach; it is essential that someone helps them realize the balance of living life in an analog way and using the tools they literally have in their pocket.

The Role of Policy and School Leadership Moving Forward

As state lawmakers and local school districts continue to debate the role of cell phones in schools, it is clear that this issue will not be resolved overnight. Public schools across the United States are navigating a complex landscape, where the need for student safety, mental health, and academic success must be balanced with the realities of modern technology.

California school districts and policymakers, including Governor Gavin Newsom, have acknowledged the challenges presented by student smartphone use. However, rather than pushing for blanket cellphone bans, many are advocating for flexible policies that can be adapted to the unique needs of individual schools.

Board member Tanya Ortiz Franklin of the Los Angeles Unified School District emphasized the importance of collaboration between school leaders, teachers, and parents when developing cellphone restrictions. “We’re committed to working with all stakeholders to ensure successful implementation to create a culture where we become less reliant on our phones,” Franklin said.

As school districts and state legislatures continue to explore potential solutions, one thing is certain: the debate over cell phones in schools is far from over. The challenge moving forward will be to develop policies that promote a healthy balance between technology use and learning, while also addressing the very real concerns about mental health, academic performance, and classroom distractions.

Conclusion: A Future of Technology and Education

Cell phones in schools are not going anywhere. As we move into the next year and beyond, schools will need to adapt to the realities of student smartphone use while continuing to prioritize education and well-being. The path forward may not be clear, but it is evident that thoughtful policy decisions, grounded in both research and practical experience, will be key to finding a solution that works for all students.

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What’s driving phone bans in schools?

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• mobile devices

This school year, many of the nation’s adolescents and teens are sitting in class without the device that can sometimes feel like an added appendage: their smartphones.

States such as Florida, Indiana, Ohio, South Carolina, and Louisiana have passed laws recently to ban or restrict cell phones in K-12 schools, while countless school districts in dozens of other states have implemented policies to limit use.

In Maryland, more than 20 school districts launched programs at the start of the school year to keep phones turned off and out of sight. Baltimore County Public Schools, for instance, introduced a pilot program in 16 middle and high schools that requires students to lock devices in “cell phone pouches” at the start of every class.

Similarly, Howard County high school students must stow phones in backpacks and use them only between classes and during lunch, while elementary and middle school students can’t use them at all, unless an administrator makes an exception for a special event or to reward positive behavior.

What’s driving the slew of policies?

Mounting research suggests that smartphone use may be fueling the country’s mental health crisis among youth —and leading to problems in schools that range from dwindling attention spans to a lack of engagement in learning and stymied social-emotional development.

Carol Vidal is a child and adolescent psychiatrist at the Johns Hopkins Children’s Center and an assistant professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, and Annette C. Anderson is deputy director of the Johns Hopkins Center for Safe and Healthy Schools and an assistant professor in the Johns Hopkins School of Education.

Here, Vidal and Anderson discuss their findings from research and share insight on their firsthand experience with kids and teens at school:

Dr. Vidal, you published a study this past May in the International Journal of Mental Health and Addiction that investigates links between social media use and mental health. What did you learn?

Vidal: Much of the discussion surrounding social media use focuses on whether it’s the cause of the current mental health crisis that involves increased rates of depression and anxiety among youth. I don’t really think that’s the case.

What our study shows—and what most of the research indicates—is that people with higher rates of depression tend to use social media more. That doesn’t mean, however, that one causes the other. It just means that people who are high users of social media or have problematic social media use also tend to be more depressed. But it’s not clear that one causes the other. In our study, for example, social media use did not increase depression over time.

What is clear, however, is that social media is a tool that gives access to a broad range of content. It’s also intentionally designed with features that make it addictive. Developers and designers want users to stay engaged as they interact with their platforms—that’s how they make money. The goal is to expose users to an endless stream of content. The more interesting the content is to the user, the longer they will stay engaged and see ads.

Another finding from research is that excessive social media use is linked to unhealthy behaviors that affect not only mental health but also physical health. These include behaviors like staying up too late at night and spending less time outdoors, which are associated with internalizing disorders—depression, anxiety—that involve emotional distress. These disorders have increased among youth in the last two decades when young people have also been spending more time at home, instead of going out to interact with the world.

What does a social media addiction look like?

Vidal: A large percentage of people who use social media have problematic social media use, which means they engage with it in unhealthy ways, thinking about it constantly and centering their lives around it. They use it excessively, too, and feel they don’t have control over their use. It takes them away from doing things that are healthier for their development, such as spending time outside, getting enough physical activity and sleep , focusing on school and work, and reading a book for pleasure. This is especially risky for children and teens because their brains are still developing, and they have less control over their impulses.

It’s also difficult for younger people because this is often how they socialize. Their relationships involve and sometimes revolve around social media. This makes social media hard for kids and teens—and hard for parents and teachers—to moderate.

Studies show that social media and other screen addictions are similar to, say, a drug or alcohol addiction. All addictions involve the neurotransmitter dopamine. And just like with any addiction, social media engagement—the comments, the likes , and so on—can release dopamine, which acts as a reward that stimulates the system and makes a person feel good temporarily. That’s how people get hooked.

Dr. Anderson, what happens, then, when kids and teens have access to a potentially addictive form of media at school via their cell phones?

Anderson: Let me start by saying this: Most parents gave their kids cell phones so they could have immediate access to communicate. In this era of school shootings, phones became a matter of safety—and a matter of coordinating the busy schedules and lives of modern families. It had nothing to do with giving kids access to video games and platforms like Instagram and Snapchat. That was an unintentional consequence.

But what parents and teachers are seeing is that smartphones have created all sorts of problems. Some students take and post inappropriate videos. Fights in schools go viral because students record and then post footage online. And students are distracted in class because they’re addicted to the apps that beg for their attention.

Smartphones are also changing how our young people pay attention. They’re distracted, and it now seems like practically everyone has ADHD because they’re being constantly bombarded with images, sounds, and all kinds of actions that are potentially interfering with their capacity to concentrate in school.

And kids and teens aren’t the only ones. Many of us sleep with our smartphones. We’re all paying the consequences. Family mealtimes, which give kids and caregivers a chance to connect, talk through what happened during the day, and a lot more—all of this is going by the wayside, in large part because of phones.

How does student cell phone use in classrooms affect teachers? What are you hearing from administrators and teachers and seeing firsthand in schools?

Anderson: So many educators have told me they’re unable to do the jobs they’re called to do because of the constant disruptions. Whether students have earbuds or headphones, they’re distracted . As a society, we’re losing our capacity to say that the time spent at school is sacred for learning because we’ve disrupted it with constant images, sounds, and actions that detract and distract from the day-to-day mission of instruction.

In addition to academics, phones are hurting social relationships and disrupting the developmental capacity of young people to experience joy in a conversation and understand how to give other people a chance to share in a group setting. All of this is evident in the school cafeteria, where everyone is staring down at a phone, instead of practicing social skills—not just taking turns but also thinking about and reflecting on the social dynamics, on how to show empathy for others, and even on what topics to bring up to have a conversation. These are the things American society is built on, and our young people are missing out.

School administrators tell me they see the impact every day. Our students are more anxious, more depressed, and less inclined to take risks in getting to know people they might not otherwise know. This, in turn, makes their circle smaller than the schoolhouse should be. The schoolhouse should be about maximum engagement and interactions. Sometimes, particularly if you’re an introvert, it becomes easier to use the phone as an escape from having to practice the very social skills that will someday help you in the workforce and in public. For these reasons, I understand that school leaders are at their wits’ end in wanting to do what they can to maintain these long-established social mores.

What can families and teachers do to help kids and teens set limits on screen time , whether at school or elsewhere?

Vidal: Smartphone and social media addictions are not yet formal disorders listed in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders , so diagnosis is tricky. But the key is to pay attention to whether it affects functioning in daily life. If kids or teens are neglecting their studies or responsibilities, or if they’re going to sleep late or not eating, and the family hasn’t been able to help the child moderate their use, then those may be signs to seek help by reaching out to a school counselor or psychologist. With screen addictions like video gaming, for example, some kids will forgo eating and spend all night playing games. I’ve seen this behavior in some of my patients. Other signs that warrant attention are spending less time outdoors, and to a certain extent, isolating from the world.

Ultimately, it’s critical for all of us—health care providers, educators, parents and other family members, and friends—to encourage a balance of moderate screen and social media use, outdoor activity, and exercise in today’s digital age. Restricting cell phone use in schools is a step in the right direction and an opportunity for children and adolescents to learn to engage with the world in a different way. When someone attempts to quit alcohol or other addictive substances, the first thing they do is empty their home of says substance. The key with screen addictions, I believe, is moderation, and the best way to achieve this is by restricting access to smartphones in certain environments, at least temporarily, so students are not constantly tempted to use it when bored or anxious, and so they can engage more fully with schoolwork, school staff, and the classmates around them.

Anderson: Many kids today are stressed and disconnected. That’s why vaping and opioid use are on the rise, and educators need tools to talk about these and other issues in ways that encourage kids to listen. This is the goal of the Johns Hopkins Health Education and Training (HEAT) Corps, a program in the School of Education for which I serve as the curriculum director. With the HEAT Corps, we equip teachers with the awareness and resources they need to understand the many challenges students face today, from long COVID and gun violence to e-cigarettes, cyberbullying, and social media.

I think it’s essential—and part of the HEAT Corps’ mission—to help young people become self-advocates around cell phone use. As a culture, we’ve gone from having television go off at 11 o’clock at night—when a flag would appear on-screen, and you’d hear a song and know it’s time for bed—to 24-hour programming. We’ve fundamentally shifted our access to entertainment without implementing the necessary education. Now, we want everything on demand, not just our entertainment but also our deliveries and even our education. We expect things to happen instantaneously, and our capacity to attend to any one topic for more than a few minutes has severely diminished.

The main challenge with schools taking cell phones away is that families have a diminished capacity to immediately contact their child. If you look at social media in the wake of the recent school shooting in Georgia, you’ll see parents expressing panic over the school cell phone bans. They don’t want their kids to give up their cell phones.

One solution is to develop a device that functions only as a telephone. Another option is to integrate software in schools that disarms apps but still lets kids contact their caregivers. With the current strategy of locking phones in storage pouches, bookbags, or lockers, the jury is out on whether that will work—and whether kids who want to use their phones will bypass the rules and find a work-around. That’s why education and awareness are critical in helping kids become self-advocates. As adults, they’ll have endless digital content available at their fingertips. The time to teach them healthy behaviors and boundary-setting is now.

Source: Johns Hopkins University

Screens at bedtime rob young teens of sleep

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California Schools Must Restrict Phones Under New Law Signed by Newsom

Calls for crackdowns have mounted with reports of cyberbullying and studies indicating that smartphones are harmful to children’s mental health.

By Shawn Hubler and Troy Closson

Shawn Hubler reported from Sacramento, and Troy Closson from New York.

Gov. Gavin Newsom signed legislation on Monday giving California school districts two years to begin banning or restricting cellphone use during school hours, an initiative that is intended to address rising concerns over social media and children’s mental health.

The Phone-Free Schools Act , which will require schools in the nation’s most populous state to restrict cellphones by July 1, 2026, is the latest statewide effort to curb phone use by children in classrooms. More than a dozen states in a little more than a year already have passed restrictions, including Louisiana, Indiana and Florida.

Calls for school crackdowns have mounted with reports of cyberbullying among adolescents and studies indicating that smartphones, which offer round-the-clock distraction and social media access, have hindered academic instruction and the mental health of children.

In a study in April by the Pew Research Center, some 72 percent of high school teachers and 33 percent of middle school teachers said that cellphone distractions during class were a “major problem.” The surgeon general, Dr. Vivek Murthy, has called for social media platforms to carry warning labels like those on cigarettes and other addictive consumer products. And Jonathan Haidt, a social psychologist who has studied the effects of phone use, has urged schools to strictly limit the use of smartphones .

Last year, nearly three dozen states sued Meta , the parent company of Instagram and Facebook, alleging that the company knowingly sought to addict children to its platforms.

In California, most schools already have cellphone restrictions or are in the process of developing them. Los Angeles Unified, the nation’s second-largest school district, will ban cellphones starting in January and is working out details.

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