Is Everyone in Favor of School Cell Phone Bans?
By Movieguide® Contributor
As regulations on children’s smartphone use begin to sweep schools across the nation, some parents are unhappy with the impact this has on them and their kids.
Last year, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis passed the first state-level legislation regulating children’s cell phone use while at school. Since then, similar laws have gone into effect around the nation, gaining strong momentum in June after the U.S. Attorney General called for an Attorney General warning label on social media for the negative impact the tech has on youth mental health.
These regulations have been approved by lawmakers in 15 states from California to Connecticut, requiring schools to limit access to phones to some degree in the near future.
“We know that excessive smartphone use increases anxiety, depression, and other mental health issues, but we have the power to intervene,” California Governor Gavin Newsom said at the end of September after signing a phone regulation bill into law. “This new law will help students focus on academics, social development, and the world in front of them, not their screens, when they’re in school.”
While these policies have found bipartisan support as lawmakers look to protect our nation’s children, it has also found pushback from parents on both sides of the aisle. Some parents worry that sweeping social media laws could encourage lawmakers to broadly regulate other aspects of school, such as the topics that are allowed to be discussed. Many parents’ worries, however, stem from a desire to have instant contact with their kids.
“I’m the first person to say that kids shouldn’t use phones while they’re in class, but they need access to them,” Danielle Hicks, mom to a 9-year-old son, told The Washington Times. “My son is often bullied at school, and I want him to have a phone because the school often fails to protect our kids.”
Nonetheless, experts agree that general bans will help children do better and school and relearn crucial skills, such as how to interact with each other away from their screens.
“I don’t know if it’s a matter of safety for students to have or not have them, but I do believe they’re a complete distraction from what teachers are trying to teach,” said author Amanda Bacon-Davis. “Along with them being a distraction, I believe children are losing the ability to engage in the real world.”
“I think we’re learning that the bans are manageable and that parents, teachers and children will adapt quickly to the new norms,” added psychologist Matthew Mulvaney. “And most will be happy with them.”
Movieguide® previously reported on cell phone regulations:
Senators John Fetterman (D-Pa.) and Katie Britt (R-Ala.) have introduced a new piece of legislation designed to warn parents about the harmful effects of social media.
“The Stop the Scroll Act [would] create a mental health warning label requirement for social media platforms,” a statement posted to Senator Fetterman’s website reads. “This bipartisan legislation would ensure all users, especially children and teens, are aware of the potential mental health risks associated with social media use and have access to mental health resources.”
While appearing together on Fox News, Senator Fetterman said, “It’s common sense. It’s what a parent would want. If you have a person that’s spending hours and hours every day with one of your kids, you would want to know [what] that person is about.”
“John and I are approaching this not just as senators, but as parents — and we believe that parents need all the information,” Senator Britt added. “When children are on social media, their rate of anxiety and depression increases. It really is the defining issue right now for our children, and it’s important that we do something — doing nothing is not an option.”
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