Schools across the US banned phones. Teens are demanding more offline support
More students are advocating for their own digital wellbeing and developing programs to thrive in tech-free learning environments As students across the country return to school this month, many will be confronting a new reality: classrooms without smartphones. Educators and parents have long fronted the fight against the debilitating influence technology can wield. Yet, many young people say…
As students across the United States return to school, a new reality is emerging: classrooms without smartphones. Educators and parents have long fought against the negative influence technology can have on young minds. However, students are now demanding a greater say in school phone policies, which are now in effect in at least 39 states and Washington DC.
Olivia Howard, a rising junior in New York, recalls receiving her first iPad as a kindergartener. She says this generation, "the first to grow up on technology," finds quitting devices cold turkey challenging. "Legislators need to consider substitutes for these banned devices," she insists.
In California, a recent state law mandates school districts to develop policies restricting phone use on campus. Elise Choi, a junior, says while locking up devices is a start, it may not be enough since "kids will always find ways around regulations." Choi, as K-12 policy co-chief with GENUp, a youth-led advocacy group, is working on a state bill for district-wide digital wellness education.
She argues that the issue extends beyond device usage, affecting mental health and sleep patterns due to late-night social media scrolling and the pressure for online validation.
Students are proactively shaping phone bans in their schools. Liv Kong, a senior at Legacy Magnet Academy in California, led a student advisory group that created and tested three pilot phone policies, eventually choosing one that bans phones during class but not during breaks. Vihaan Bhardwaj, a senior from Mount Everest Academy, says the San Diego district's phone ban left students confused. The school district has now established a student-led committee to better communicate screen time mandates.
GenUP's Teen Tech Council, supported by a nonprofit called #HalfTheStory, has provided mini-grants to 50 schools across New York, reaching over 17,000 students. These grants have funded initiatives like craft carts and phone-free scavenger hunts, aiming to build real-world connections and reduce phone usage. Cayden Boahene, a high school graduate, used his grant to host a Wellness Day with games and activities.
Howard, from Long Island, notes that social media often fuels an urge to compare oneself to others, negatively impacting mental health.
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