California Cracks Down: New Law Bans Cell Phones in Schools – What You Need to Know
California Enacts Law Restricting Student Smartphone Use in Schools
California Governor Gavin Newsom emphasizes the importance of students focusing on their studies and social development.
According to a Reuters report on September 23rd, the U.S. state of California has passed a law restricting or prohibiting students from using cell phones in schools. The bill was approved by the state House of Representatives with 76 votes in favor and no opposition, and also received overwhelming support in the Senate with 38 votes in favor and 1 vote against.
The law requires school boards to establish policies banning or limiting student smartphone use in schools by July 1, 2026, and to review these policies every five years. Governor Gavin Newsom stated that the law aims to curb excessive smartphone use, which has led to anxiety, depression, and other mental health problems, and will help students focus on academics and social development rather than smartphones.
According to Education Week, an educational media outlet, since Florida banned cell phone use during classes last year, more than 10 other states have banned or restricted cell phone use in schools or recommended that local education authorities follow suit. A Gallup poll found that American teenagers spend an average of 4.8 hours a day on social media.
Vivek Murthy, director of the U.S. Surgeon General’s Office (PHSCC), declared excessive social media use a mental health emergency in June, stating that using social media for more than three hours a day can increase the risk of mental illness in adolescents. He also suggested that social media platforms should be equipped with warning labels similar to those on cigarettes.
California has also enacted a law to protect minors from social networking service (SNS) addiction. This law, which will be implemented starting in 2027, prohibits SNS from intentionally providing addictive content to minors without parental consent. It also restricts SNS from sending notifications to minors without parental consent between midnight and 6 a.m. and 8 a.m. and 3 p.m. on weekdays during the school year. Additionally, the law requires SNS settings for minors’ accounts to be set to private by default.