Washington On Tuesday, the U.S. Education Department urged all states, schools, and districts to establish guidelines regarding the use of cellphones in classrooms.
Although it does not specify exactly what those rules should be, the agency does ask that schools adopt well-considered policies on the subject. The danger social media poses to students’ mental health is mentioned in an associated educational resource.
U.S. Education Secretary Miguel Cardona stated in a written statement that every elementary, middle, and high schools should have a clear, consistent, and research-based policy to govern the use of phones and personal devices in the classroom in this digital age.
There is no one-size-fits-all policy, as the evidence clearly shows. Cardona went on to say that different school communities have different needs and that the complexity of this issue necessitates that local voices—those of parents, teachers, and students—inform local decisions regarding the use of personal devices in the classroom.
The government recognized that cellphones may help parents stay in touch with their children, particularly during emergencies, but it also emphasized the growing body of research showing the negative effects of social media on young people’s mental health, including melancholy and sleep deprivation.
Increasing state policies
More and more states and school districts have passed legislation that either forbids or restricts students’ use of cellphones in class.
More than half of all states have attempted to outlaw or restrict cellphone usage in classrooms, and school districts and schools across are still struggling with how to handle children’s use of these devices.
According to KFF, as of early November, at least eight states had enacted statewide legislation restricting or outright banning the use of cellphones in the classroom.
This encompasses South Carolina, Virginia, Louisiana, Ohio, Florida, Indiana, and California. According to a Minnesota statute, schools must have a cellphone policy in place by March 2025.
Legislators in a number of states have submitted statewide legislation pertaining to cellphone use, while education departments in a few other states have released policy guidelines or pilot projects.
The publication of a resource for local communities and education officials on implementing policies regarding smartphone use corresponds with the U.S. Education Department’s guidelines.
Cardona cites U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy’s 2023 public warning about the impact of social media on the mental health of young people in the playbook.
Murthy cautions: Although more research is required to completely comprehend the effects of social media, the body of evidence currently available suggests that, although social media may benefit certain kids and teenagers, there are numerous signs that it can also pose a serious risk to their mental health and general wellbeing.
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