- Teachers are increasingly worried that smartphones are becoming major distractions for students and leading to issues such as compulsive social media use and cyberbullying.
- In response to these concerns, several states have passed laws this year to restrict phone use in schools, with some schools implementing outright bans.
- While the bans aim to protect students, not all parents are supportive, particularly those who are used to contacting their children during the school day.
Students using smartphones in schools is nothing new, but a majority of teachers are concerned that these devices are becoming too much of a distraction. While one part of the problem is that kids are compulsively checking social media platforms during their classes, there’s a more sinister issue at play: the potential misuse of these devices to bully others, share videos of physical attacks, and sexually exploit other minors.
According to The New York Times, several states are now attempting to crack down on smartphone usage within school premises as a result. This year alone, something to the tune of eight states have already passed laws or adopted rules to restrict phone use. Independently, some schools are also banning phones outright, and this move seems to be working. Teachers have revealed that these handset restrictions have improved students’ focus and ability to work in groups. Some schools also report that bullying and school fights have decreased ever since they implemented rules regarding phone usage.
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