Banning cellphones in schools gains popularity in red and blue states
Bipartisan Push to Ban Cellphones in Schools Gains Momentum Across U.S.
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — In a rare show of bipartisan unity, governors from opposite ends of the political spectrum are rallying behind a growing movement: banning cellphones in schools. Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders, a Republican, and California Gov. Gavin Newsom, a Democrat, are among the leaders advocating for policies to restrict students’ use of mobile devices during the school day.
The push comes as concerns mount over the impact of screen time on children’s mental health and the disruptive role phones play in classrooms. At least eight states have enacted bans or restrictions over the past two years, with more considering similar measures this year.
Why the Push for Cellphone Bans?
The movement is fueled by mounting evidence that excessive screen time and social media use are harming young people’s mental health. U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy has been a vocal advocate for phone-free periods in schools, even calling for warning labels on social media platforms.
Teachers, too, have raised alarms. Phones have become a constant distraction, pulling students’ attention away from lessons and disrupting the learning environment. While 77% of U.S. schools reportedly prohibit cellphones for non-academic use, enforcement is often inconsistent.
Kim Whitman, co-founder of the Phone Free Schools Movement, says the issue resonates across political and geographic lines. “It doesn’t matter if you live in a big city or a rural town, urban or suburban,” she said. “All children are struggling and need that seven-hour break from the pressures of phones and social media during the school day.”
States Taking Action
At least eight states—California, Florida, Indiana, Louisiana, Minnesota, Ohio, South Carolina, and Virginia—have enacted laws or policies restricting cellphone use in schools. The approaches vary widely.
Florida led the charge in 2023 with a law requiring public schools to ban cellphone use during class time and block social media access on district Wi-Fi. California’s 2024 law mandates that nearly 1,000 school districts develop their own cellphone policies by July 2026.
In Arkansas, Gov. Sanders launched a pilot program last year offering grants to schools that adopt phone-free policies. More than 100 schools signed on, and Sanders recently proposed an outright ban. “We will ban cellphones in our schools, bell to bell, so that our kids are not distracted, in class or out of it,” she said during her state of the state address.
Other governors, including New Hampshire’s Kelly Ayotte, Iowa’s Kim Reynolds, and Nebraska’s Jim Pillen, have also called for bans. New York Gov. Kathy Hochul has hinted at a statewide policy but has yet to provide specifics.
Opposition to the Bans
Despite the growing momentum, the bans have faced pushback from some parents who argue that phones are essential for staying connected with their children, especially in emergencies.
Some have pointed to school shootings, where students used phones to communicate with loved ones during life-threatening situations. Supporters of the bans counter that phones can also pose risks during emergencies, such as revealing a student’s location to an active shooter or causing distractions.
Parents also cite practical concerns, like coordinating transportation or staying in touch for other needs. Keri Rodrigues, president of the National Parents Union, acknowledges the dangers of social media but argues that outright bans are too simplistic.
“We have not done our job as grown-ups to try to teach our kids the skills they need to actually navigate this technology,” she said. “We’ve just kicked the can down the road and thrown them into the deep end of the pool when they’re by themselves after school.”
As the debate continues, the movement to restrict cellphones in schools shows no signs of slowing down, with states across the country grappling with how to balance safety, education, and the realities of modern technology.