The head of Washington’s public schools, State Superintendent Chris Reykdal, has issued a notice to districts across the state encouraging them to create plans to limit or ban students’ use of cell phones and smart devices on campus and in classrooms. Reykdal asked school leaders to work with their communities to develop regulations and implement them by fall 2025. With growing evidence of the negative impacts of cell phones and social media on students, some schools and states are already taking action. Louisiana and South Carolina have laws banning cell phone use during the school day, while Florida prohibits their use during instructional time. Seven additional states are requiring or incentivizing districts to develop policies restricting cell phone use, while two others have recommended policies to educators.
In Los Angeles, the Unified School District board voted to ban students from using cell phones and social media platforms during school hours. In Seattle, some schools are already implementing restrictions on cell phone use, with Hamilton International and Robert Eagle Staff middle schools prohibiting them during school hours and Rainier Beach High School only allowing use in designated areas during lunch. Rainier Beach Principal Annie Patu stated that the ban is necessary due to the negative impacts of cell phones on students, including anxiety, distraction, social media bullying, fights, and disruption of learning. Policies restricting cell phone use may include exemptions for students with disabilities who use the devices to support their education.
While Reykdal has given districts a year to create a plan for limiting cell phone use, many families are calling for more immediate action. Parents in Seattle Public Schools launched an online petition asking the district to restrict cell phone usage during school time by the fall start of school. Strategies for preventing phone use may include using locked pouches or storing phones in backpacks at the front of a classroom. UNESCO issued a call for leaders to restrict cell phone use at schools over a year ago, and the U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy has warned about the negative impacts of social media on youth mental health.
Schools that have implemented cell phone bans have reported benefits such as increased student engagement, improved mental health, and fewer discipline problems and violent behaviors. The shift towards restricting cell phone use in schools is in response to concerns about the negative effects of these devices on students’ academic performance, mental health, and social interactions. With mounting evidence supporting the need for limitations on cell phone use, more schools and states are taking action to regulate the presence of these devices on campus. It remains to be seen how these restrictions will impact students’ overall well-being and academic success in the long run.
