NYC schools restrict student YouTube access as tech backlash grows
New York City is ratcheting up restrictions on students’ access to YouTube on school-issued devices, education officials told City Council members on Tuesday. The disclosure came just one day after Council members Shekar Krishnan and Eric Dinowitz called on the city’s…
New York City has implemented stricter restrictions on student access to YouTube on school-issued devices, following recent demands from city council members and growing skepticism of education technology tools. The decision was made effective September 9, one day before students returned to classrooms. Now, students are unable to access YouTube on school-issued Chromebooks or iPads, both in and out of the classroom.
The only exception is for videos shared by teachers through Google Classroom as part of their lessons. This policy shift comes after Mayor Zohran Mamdani's broader tech policy, which generally bans individual screen use before third grade and recommends screen time limits for older students. The move also reflects a shift in the Education Department's stance, as they have become more open to banning products and tools in recent years.
Council members Shekar Krishnan and Eric Dinowitz called for the restriction of YouTube and other technology in schools, advocating for a stronger digital literacy curriculum and a return to paper-and-pencil testing when possible.
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