‘No students talking to each other’: In the US, some schools are banning the use of cellphones

When Florida officials in May issued a statewide ban on using cellphones in classrooms, administrators in one county felt they did not go far enough.

In a unanimous August decision, Orange County’s school board – overseeing one of the largest districts in the country – barred the use of cellphones or smart watches at any time during the school day, including at lunch or between classes.

“From bell to bell,” Orange County School Board Chair Teresa Jacobs told Context, summing up the ruling.

“Cellphones were being used rampantly. It seemed like when you walked down the hall, there were no students talking to each other,” she said.

The change comes amid a growing national debate on the increased use of digital devices after the pandemic and the effect it is having on academic achievement, socialisation and even violence in schools. “Teachers are trying to hold our students’ attention,” Jacobs said. “But they’re competing with this device.”

One study last year found that screen time for children rose by 52% during the pandemic, driven particularly by 12-to-18-year-olds getting their own devices.

Other studies have found the presence of a phone in class leads to lower grades and worse long-term retention of information. In addition to Florida, schools in at least seven states have banned phones or other devices this year.

In July, the United...

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