In a bid to address the negative impacts of cellphone use on young people, the Los Angeles Unified School District has recently approved an all-day ban on cellphones. The district, which serves around 400,000 students and is the second-largest in the nation, believes that cellphones are a distraction to children’s learning, harm mental health, and inhibit personal connections among students. The ban will start in January, with various methods for enforcing it being considered, such as requiring students to store their cellphones in locked pouches or special lockers.
The decision to ban cellphones stems from research that has shown negative impacts of cellphone use on young people. Surveys conducted by Common Sense Media revealed that half of all teens feel “addicted” to their phones, while another survey indicated that 97% of kids ages 11 to 17 use their phones during the school day. Board member Nick Melvoin, who introduced the resolution, stated that children are no longer able to simply be kids due to the constant presence of cellphones.
Currently in Los Angeles, students are not allowed to use their cellphones during class hours but are permitted to access them during lunch or nutrition breaks. This policy highlights the ongoing struggle that school administrators nationwide face in managing smartphone use among students. Data from the Pew Research Center shows that about 70% of high school teachers believe that cellphone distractions are a significant problem in their classrooms.
In response to this issue, New York Governor Kathy Hochul plans to propose a ban on smartphones in schools during the 2025 legislative session. Additionally, California Governor Gavin Newsom expressed his intention to collaborate with the legislature to restrict smartphone use during school hours in schools across the state. He emphasized the importance of students focusing on their studies rather than their screens while at school.
