Schools should adopt bell-to-bell phone-free policies

I serve as Co-Chair of the Peninsula/Silicon Valley chapter of Mothers Against Media Addiction, an organization focused on helping families develop healthier technology habits, removing smartphones from the school day, and advocating for basic safety standards for children’s technology.

We are living through a youth mental health crisis. A growing body of research links excessive smartphone and social media use with rising levels of anxiety, depression and suicidal ideation among adolescents. At the same time, classroom learning is suffering. One study found the average attention span dropped from 2 1/2 minutes in 2004 to just 47 seconds today. Teachers are often forced to spend valuable instructional time policing phone use rather than teaching.

Evidence from districts that have implemented bell-to-bell phone-free policies is encouraging. In New York schools with these policies, 92% reported a smooth transition to distraction-free learning, 83% saw more positive classrooms and better student engagement, and 75% said their ability to teach improved. Research from the University of Pennsylvania also suggests stricter phone policies reduce disruption and increase teacher satisfaction.

Just as importantly, removing phones during lunch and passing periods allows students to build real-world friendships, an essential developmental skill.

California lawmakers are already considering legislation that would require stronger school phone restrictions.

Cheryl Westmont

Hillsborough