Smartphones are a big part of today’s society. Since their introduction in the 2000s, phones have taken a large role in people’s daily lives. Recent studies have linked smartphones to issues revolving around mental health, and this has led to school administrators and government officials questioning if phones have any place in a school.
Phones have been prevalent in schools for the past decade, but social media has increasingly consumed teenagers’ attention throughout the day. According to a 2023 study by Common Sense Media, “teens receive 237 notifications on their cellphones per day, and kids spend a median of 43 minutes on their phones during school hours, or the equivalent of about one class period”. This increased usage has prompted school districts and governments to create policies limiting or entirely removing smartphones from the classroom setting. Associated Press cites that “Florida was the first state to crack down on phones in school, passing a 2023 law that requires all public schools to ban cellphone use during class time and block access to social media on district Wi-Fi.”
Elizabeth Heubeck, a staff writer for Education Week, researched on the issue of smartphones and their detriment on teens and children. ”Research shows that early adolescents are particularly susceptible to the seductive risks tied to cellphone use: Think cyberbullying, catfishing (creating a fake identity online to mislead someone), and straight-up addiction.” Heubeck finds that school can already be a tough time for students, but the added distraction of smartphones can be problematic for students in their development.
Heubeck isn’t the only one concerned about cell phones stunting students’ growth. “An August 2024 survey from the National Education Association found that 90 percent of teachers support policies prohibiting student use of cellphones or other personal devices at school during instructional time.” Tim Callahan, a principal, originally never would have supported a cell phone policy, but after seeing the effects phones had on students in person, he had a change of mind. “I think it’s a huge problem, I think we’ll look back on cellphones the way we look back on cigarette smoking, and say, ‘I can’t believe that was allowed.’”
Pete McAdams from SPASH, when questioned about what he’s seen following the implementations of phone policies this year, said “I definitely see a lot more engagement. I think that definitely correlates with higher academic achievement,” he added, “I think you’re going to have higher achievement with higher engagement. And when kids aren’t worried about their phones or on their phones, they’re definitely more engaged.” When asked about what should happen to ensure the policies are effective, he said “Do I think we’re consistent with it across the board from teacher to teacher? Probably not. Policies are one thing, enforcement on the policies is sometimes different on that. So as long as all the educators in the building and staff members throughout the building enforce the policy, it’s a good policy.”
Lauraine Langreo, another staff writer for Education Week, reported on the new policies being implemented. In a study, she found that “Many educators report meaningful changes for the good in their schools after banning cellphones: kids start talking to one another again in the lunchroom, discipline problems drop, student behavior improves.”
Despite these discoveries from teachers, Langreo reports, “The findings from the research that has been done so far, much of it in other countries, aren’t a slam dunk for cellphone bans. Of the studies that found that restrictions improved students’ academic performance or mental health, the effects were small. Other studies have found no effects.” This is a major problem with inflicting these policies among schools. Sure, teachers can say that the students have improved behavior and grades, but without any statistical data showing improvement, it’s tough to back up these claims.
According to The Guardian, a study done in the UK by Lancet’s Regional Health Europe journal, “Found that attempts to restrict phone use at school did not lower the overall time children spent on their devices throughout the day.” The Guardian also reported, “Dr Victoria Goodyear, the study’s lead author, told the BBC that school phone bans were not an effective way to tackle the negative impacts of overusing phones.”
“Researchers from the University of Birmingham did find that spending longer on phones and social media in general was linked to lower grades, poor sleep, disruptive behaviour and a lack of exercise.” The Guardian reported, “But these outcomes did not differ between schools that banned phones and those that did not.”
Some parents also voice concerns about new phone policies. According to the National Parents Union, “The main reason many parents do not support cellphone bans is because they want to be able to reach their children in case of an emergency.” For example, if there were to be a severe weather warning, and students were allowed to head home, then some students would need to communicate with their parents and/or guardians to ensure that they are on the same page. There could also be an issue with students that go to schools far from where they live.
All things considered, there are respectable arguments on both sides of this issue. Educators have reported seeing improvement, but among studies done on students academic performance there has been no findings of improvement. These restrictions can shape the future of these students. Education is important, but are schools going too far entirely banning phones?